Kim Petras reveals she took therapy after 'Unholy' success, lauds Sam Smith for supporting her with fame

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kim Petras has opened up on her life in the spotlight.

The 31-year-old singer admitted in a cover interview with Cosmopolitan UK published Friday, March 15, that she turned to therapy after 'Unholy' success, the Grammy-winning track she made along with Sam Smith. 

“Therapy was necessary for me after having a huge song, to learn how to shut everything off,” Petras told the publication.

“I had a therapist in my teen years and stopped when things got busy. But I missed having someone to let everything out to. I recommend therapy to everyone; it’s an essential tool... The music industry can get very hectic,” she opined.

Kim Petras on the attention she received after collaboration with Sam Smith 

Petras further confessed that her collaboration with Smith garnered a lot of attention which, “took over [her] life.”

“It was insane,” she noted. “Suddenly I was traveling a lot, and there were more eyeballs on me than ever before. It felt like a huge breakthrough, as it shifted the music industry’s perception of me and what I could do.”

Kim Petras credited Sam Smith for helping her deal with fame 

Alongside therapy, Petras also credited Smith for helping her deal with stardom and being in the public eye.

“Sam’s such a wonderful person, and has been my coach in a lot of ways,” she told Cosmopolitan UK.

“If I feel in a crisis, or read something about myself that I can’t deal with, I’ll text or call them. That level of media attention is really scary; it forced me to grow as a person, and it’s so inspiring to see Sam be able to brush that off.”

Petras also spoke of their song winning a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at last year’s ceremony.

“It was a huge honor, and I’m very grateful for that whole experience. But nothing can prepare you for that level of attention. It felt exposing and scary. Suddenly, a lot of people who wouldn’t usually listen to my music were digging up my origin story," said Petras.

The celebrity duo became the first openly trans and non-binary artists, respectively, to take home the award in the category. They were also introduced to the stage by none other than Madonna to perform their hit track at the ceremony. 

Kim Petras on her interaction with Madonna

Petras revealed the encouraging words that the 65-year-old iconic singer, Madonna, shared with her before the performance.

"I was so nervous. I was freaking out," said Petras. "After her speech, she turned around and mouthed to me, 'Go get it, bitch.' That made me feel like, I got this."

"I feel like I have a special connection with Madonna too because I always felt like she pushed gender, and she wasn’t necessarily only super-feminine or super-masculine, and she just is Madonna," Petras said. "I think Madonna gave me a lot of hope and strength and stuff when I needed it, even as a kid."