Westlife star Shane Filan has shared a deeply personal moment from his career, recalling the night he unexpectedly broke down during a performance. As he prepares to reunite on tour with fellow bandmates Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan for the group’s milestone 25th anniversary, Shane reflected on the emotional weight that came with performing after losing both of his parents to cancer. The singer, who has always spoken lovingly about his family, admitted that one particular show pushed him to a breaking point he never anticipated.
The Sligo-born singer lost his mother, Mae, to lung cancer in 2019, and his father, Peter, to pancreatic cancer in 2020. In a heartfelt conversation with Ocean FM, Shane explained how deeply their absence hit him during a performance at Belfast’s Ulster Hall during the Covid era. The concert, organised for BBC Radio 2 with a limited audience, marked the first time Shane had taken the stage without his parents in the crowd. He shared that his parents always travelled to see him perform in Belfast and Dublin, and the realisation that they were no longer there overwhelmed him mid-song—especially during “You Raise Me Up.”
Shane described the experience as one of the toughest moments of his life on stage, admitting that he “fell apart” emotionally and struggled to finish the song. That night, the grief he carried became impossible to hide, and he said the moment opened his eyes to how deeply fans also connect to Westlife’s music. For many audience members, the songs evoke memories of their own loved ones, something Shane says he now understands on an even deeper level. To him, Westlife’s music represents more than nostalgia—it’s a shared emotional space for both the band and their supporters.
Beyond speaking about his own grief, Shane also fondly remembered his parents’ warmth toward fans. He reflected on how his mother, in particular, embraced his fame with pride and kindness. She often welcomed fans into their home, offering them drinks, chatting with them for hours, and making sure they got their chance to meet Shane. Her generosity and joy in connecting with people left a lasting impression on him, shaping the way he values Westlife’s loyal following today.
Shane, who has been married to his wife Gillian for two decades and shares three children with her—Nicole, Patrick, and Shane Junior—continues to balance his family life with his music career. Recently, he enjoyed attending Ed Sheeran’s special hometown concerts with his children, a reminder of how meaningful live music can be. As Westlife gears up for their major 2026 tour, Shane’s reflections make clear that the stage holds years of memories, love, and loss—but also an unbreakable bond with fans and family alike.
