Corinne Bailey Rae has candidly revealed that she didn't believe she would survive the devastating loss of her first husband, Jason Rae, who tragically died at just 31 years old. The Put Your Records On singer was only 29 when her husband of seven years passed away from an accidental drug overdose in 2008, a heartbreaking event that left her feeling her life had ended.
A Life Together Cut Short
The couple had been together for nine years after meeting when Corinne, now 47, was studying English at Leeds University and working at a club where Jason, a saxophonist, performed. As her music career blossomed, they traveled the world together, with Jason joining her band. Their life together came to a sudden and tragic end when Jason, described by Corinne as very cautious and unwilling to even take paracetamol when sober, tried methadone after a night of drinking with a friend.
His death was attributed to him being a naive user of the heroin substitute medication. Corinne has recalled the immediate aftermath with painful clarity, stating, The initial feeling was shock and disbelief, and then just feeling like that's the end of my life. I was only 29, but I felt, well I've had a good run and I've had all these great things happen.
Overwhelming Grief and Recovery
She described being completely incapacitated by grief, telling the Guardian, It just felt like this was the end of everything. I was so incapacitated. I didn't do anything. I didn't really leave the house. I didn't work. It was incredibly painful. There was nothing else. I was just thinking how will I survive the rest of my life, because I was in such a massive amount of pain.
At the time of Jason's death, Corinne was nearing completion of her second album, The Sea, but it took her another two years to finally release the record. During this period of profound sorrow, her friendship with the album's producer, Steve Brown, a musician who had played with Jason, gradually deepened into a romantic relationship.
Finding Love and Family Again
The couple married in 2013 and now share two daughters, aged eight and six. Corinne has expressed gratitude for this second chance at happiness, calling her marriage and family a real bonus and explaining, I didn't expect to get married again or have children.
Corinne first burst onto the music scene with Put Your Records On in 2006, followed by her self-titled debut album, which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and achieved triple platinum certification. Reflecting on the divide between her 2006 debut and her 2010 second album, she noted how her life was irrevocably split by the tragedy, stating that Jason's death not only changed my life but also changed my career in a really big way.
Celebrating a Milestone
Now, Corinne is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Put Your Records On with an illustrated children's book of the same name, marking a full-circle moment in her career and personal healing journey. Her story stands as a testament to resilience in the face of unimaginable loss, showing how she navigated through deep grief to find new purpose and joy in life.
