Kelly Rowland Speaks Out on Reconnecting with Estranged Father After 30 Years

Kelly Rowland learned the ultimate lesson that “we have to give our parents grace.”

On this week’s broadcast of “Today,” the Destiny’s Child group member opened up about reconnecting with her estranged father, Christopher Lovett, after 30 years.

“My understanding of where my dad was as a kid was that he was not really ready as a father,” the musician said in the interview. “I was angry at him. I was disappointed in him. I had all of those feelings of abandonment.”

“I think as a kid, you just feel like if they’re not there, they don’t want to be here. So that’s what I felt and that feeling sucked.”

However, Kelly’s feelings toward her father changed after she and husband Tim Weatherspoon welcomed their first child, son Titan Jewell, in 2014.

Three weeks after Kelly gave birth to her eldest, her mother Doris Rowland Garrison died — an event that made her want to reach out to Christopher.

“I said, ‘I really need to know him. I want to meet him,’“ Rowland recalled. “I think I had these feelings of like, ‘Oh my God, I have no parents.’ And it was like, no, you do — you have one left.”

Kelly also revealed that Jay-Z — the husband of her former bandmate Beyoncé — played a part in her decision when the rapper told her, “Love is all about risk. You gotta decide if you’re gonna jump.”

Prior to meeting her dad at a hotel in Atlanta, Kelly was ready to ask him questions about their tumultuous relationship.

“Before I walked in, I had all these thoughts of what I was gonna say. I had all these questions lined up,” she said. “And as soon as I saw his face, it was a blank.”

During their talk, Kelly said it was “incredible” to speak with her dad again.

“Underneath all the disappointment and hurt and anger and fear — that’s somebody you love.”

Additionally, Christopher told Kelly about his childhood and how his relationship with his father was no different.

“He’s telling me about his dynamic with his father, and his father’s father, and it’s nonexistent, too,” she said. “So how can one learn how to be something when they weren’t taught?”

Overall, Kelly learned that “we are not perfect.”

“You have to allow space. You’re not gonna get it right every time, and that’s okay. And I had to give my dad grace.”

She added, “As parents, we have to give our parents grace. It’s never too late. Forgiveness is always right there.”

Kelly and her husband also share son Noah Jon, born last year.

Back in 2019, Kelly appeared on our show and dished about her epic Australian birthday celebration and the music video for her inspiring single “Crown”!

WATCH, below: