Vanessa Carlton describes 'A Thousand Miles' success as a heavy burden

• Vanessa Carlton described her early success as an emotional and professional burden
• The singer struggled to find freedom while navigating the pressures of pop stardom
• Her seventh studio album, titled Veils, was released on 17 April 2026
  

Vanessa Carlton has offered a candid reflection on the overwhelming success of her debut single, "A Thousand Miles," describing the experience as a significant emotional burden.

The forty-five-year-old American singer-songwriter and pianist told People magazine that she experienced mixed emotions as the track secured its place in musical history following its 2001 release.

"I went through a really bad period with it," she revealed, noting that interactions with people often made the song feel like a weight.

"For a certain period there, it was like a burden to bear because it was my own burden that I created."

The musician explained that her struggle stemmed from a desperate need to find personal freedom and move forward as an artist.

She admitted that she did not consider herself to be a "very good pop star" during the height of her fame.

Drawing on her history as a ballet dancer, Carlton noted that while she became adept at surviving failure, "surviving success is a different thing."

She elaborated on the pressures of a "schadenfreude type of society" that seeks to pull down those at the top, which further complicated her relationship with her own achievements.

Despite these past difficulties, the "Pretty Baby" hitmaker now acknowledges the pivotal role the song played in shaping her enduring career.

She suggests that her journey through fame has informed her latest musical direction. This newfound perspective is evident in her seventh studio album, Veils, which was released on Friday.

Carlton remains a respected figure in the industry, balancing her pop legacy with her evolution as a sophisticated songwriter.