**Note: This story originally made headlines in September 2012 and is being republished.**
In a powerful interview, Pattie Mallette, Justin Bieber’s mother, opened up about her painful past, from enduring years of sexual abuse to facing pressure to terminate her pregnancy at 17. Despite overwhelming odds, she chose to keep her baby—a decision that would change both their lives.
In her memoir *Nowhere But Up: The Story of Justin Bieber’s Mom*, Mallette speaks openly about the trauma, shame, and depression she battled as a teen, which led to a suicide attempt. “Drugs and alcohol only made things worse,” she recalled. “It was a breaking point.”
Choosing to keep Justin despite pressure not to, Mallette said, “I didn’t know how I was going to manage, but I had to give him a chance.” The moment she heard his first cry, she described it as “the most precious sound I’ve ever heard.”
Her journey—from trauma to single motherhood to raising a global superstar—is one of resilience, faith, and fierce love. “I didn’t have all the answers,” she said, “but I was committed to giving him the best life I could.”
Mallette’s story remains a moving testament to perseverance and the power of a mother’s love.
