Ne-Yo on Writing 'Don't Love Me' Amid Potential Divorce From Wife: 'It Was Me Trying to Cop Out' (Exclusive)

etonline.com:

Ne-Yo's inching closer to dropping his first full-length album in nearly five years, and while those tracks will give fans all the feels, the 42-year-old singer can't help but reflect on one particular track he wrote years ago that reminds him of a time when he almost gave up on his marriage.The «Miss Independent» Singer opened up about the significance behind the new single, «Don't Love Me,» off his upcoming album (drops July 15), telling ET's Deny Directo exactly how the track was received by his wife, Crystal, after hearing it.

Yes, the public knows it's an open letter to his wife, but Ne-Yo says it took them back to a time when their marriage was on the rocks.«When she first heard the song it reminded her her of the time we were in when I wrote the song,» Ne-Yo explained. «That was kind of a teary moment because the song was written in the throes of us potentially getting a divorce.»Back in April, the three-time GRAMMY winner and Crystal got married for the second time in a lavish Las Vegas wedding ceremony.

But it took some time before things finally came up roses for the couple, who share three children. Ne-Yo revealed back in February 2020 that he and Crystal decided to divorce.

They reconciled a month later, and he proposed to Crystal again on New Year's Eve 2020.After all they've been through and a lot of self-reflection, Ne-Yo says he can now be honest about where he stood in the marriage during that tumultuous period.«I can say this now.