Top 10 Dark Truths About Iconic Singers

From his decades-long career in bands like The Yardbirds, Cream, and Derek to his iconic guitar style, Eric Clapton is a rock music icon. While his talent and musicianship gained him fans in the early days, the internet helped give later fans access to everything they’d want to know about the English rock and bluesman. However, Clapton didn’t always know everything about himself growing up. Till he was 9, Clapton thought his grandmother and step-grandfather were his parents and his mother was his sister. His mother was 16 and unmarried when she had him, while his father was a Canadian soldier who returned to his home country before Eric was even born. Clapton reportedly only found out the truth when he overheard a neighborhood conversation.

#9: Eminem's Family Lawsuit

Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem, has been praised in the music world for his honest and hard-hitting rapping. One person quite close to him, however, was not too fond of his music. In 1999, Eminem's mother, Debbie Mathers, sued him for over $10 million. She claimed that the lyrics in his songs, particularly from The Slim Shady LP, where Eminem accused her of using substances and neglecting him, are untrue and defamatory. Ultimately, the case was settled, with Debbie being awarded $25,000, which only amounted to $1,600 after her legal fees.


#8: The Death of 50 Cent's Mother

Fans of Curtis Jackson, known professionally as 50 Cent, will tell you that growing up was far from easy for him. Much of the rapper’s music covers themes such as street life, survival, and poverty, with these struggles starting quite early in his life. In the early ‘80s, when 50 was only 8 years old, his mother, Sabrina Jackson died in what was a suspected homicide. It’s believed Jackson was drugged and left unconscious in her apartment before it was set on fire. Unfortunately, no arrests were made, and her killer remains unidentified to this day. After his mother’s murder, 50 moved in with his grandparents, where he lived with eight other relatives.

Although Whitney Houston will forever be known for her cover of “I Will Always Love You”, we may not ever know the full extent of the late singer’s personal life. Despite rumors and the scrutiny surrounding her close relationship with longtime friend Robyn Crawford, Houston never fully addressed her sexuality before her death. In 2019 however, Crawford confirmed that she and Houston had shared a romantic and physical relationship when they were younger. In her memoir A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston, Crawford goes in-depth about how their relationship ended due to concerns it could affect Houston’s career and pressure from her religious mother.

For thirteen years, pop princess Britney Spears was forced to live under a strict conservatorship controlled by her father, Jamie Spears. Despite releasing multiple albums, touring worldwide, and headlining a Las Vegas residency, Spears had almost no autonomy. She had no control over any of the money she was earning and wasn’t even allowed to drive a car. At court proceedings, Britney testified that she had no control over her funds, she had been abused and given substances without consent, urging the court to hold those responsible accountable. As of today, Britney’s conservatorship has ended and she has regained control of her life.

The late Beatles singer was known to propagate peace and activism through his musical career, with iconic songs such as “Imagine.” However, this was not always the case in his personal life when he was younger. John Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Powell, has opened up about John hitting her early on in their relationship. She describes how she lived in fear of his temper during their time together, in multiple interviews and in her book, “John.” The musician himself admitted that he was “a hitter” during a Playboy interview, just two days before his death.

Rockstar Steven Tyler is best known for his flamboyant outfits and high-pitched screaming as the lead vocalist of the rock band Aerosmith. His androgynous vibe and impressive on stage acrobatics help make the singer’s performances unforgettable. Unfortunately, these tend to overshadow his dark past. In 1973, Tyler became involved with and obtained legal guardianship of the then-teenaged Julia Holcomb, bringing her to his Boston home, when he was 25. Fast forward to 2022, where Holcomb sued Tyler for sexual assault, a forced termination of pregnancy, and supplying her substances over the course of a 3-year relationship.

#3: Elvis Presley's Inappropriate Infatuations

As Elvis Presley rose to fame, he cemented himself as a worldwide heartthrob, lauded for his crooning singing style and his charming appearance. The right age to be an Elvis girl, however, appeared to be 14. While touring and making movies, the King of Rock and Roll would seek out teenagers to spend time with, such as Frances Forbes and Sandy Ferra. The truth about whether or not these relationships were consummated depends on who you ask. His future wife Priscilla was also only 14 when she met 24-year-old Elvis. After their daughter Lisa Marie was born, Elvis was allegedly also involved in other inappropriate underage relationships.

#2: Axl Rose’s Troubling Childhood

At age 17, Axl Rose discovered that the man he thought to be his father was actually his stepfather, the man his mother married following his biological father’s departure. Unfortunately, this wouldn’t be Rose’s only disturbing revelations from childhood. Therapy later in life would unearth the Guns N’ Roses singer’s alleged memories of being sexually abused by Rose Sr.
His life growing up with his mother and stepfather was also reportedly violent. Rose regularly found himself in trouble with the authorities and finally left home for Los Angeles in his late teens. Many of experiences are reflected in his music, in songs such as “It’s So Easy” and “Welcome to the Jungle,” which tackle themes of survival and resilience.

Between the ages of 7 and his teenage years, Marvin Gaye unfortunately suffered much physical abuse at the hands of his father, Marvin Gaye Sr. The singer’s father was extremely strict and religious, using his belt as a whip to discipline him. His childhood upbringing eventually led him to enlist in the U.S. Air Force as a teen, but his tenure was brief and he would soon music. Sadly, Marvin Gaye Sr.’s violence towards his son did not end when he became an adult. On April 1, 1984, Marvin Gaye was shot twice and killed by his own father when he got in the middle of a fight between his parents while he was at their home in California.




Were you surprised by these jaw-dropping reveals about your favorite stars? Let us know in the comments which truth shocked you the most!