Louis Tomlinson opens up about his mum's death for the first time
Johannah sadly died in December 2016
Last updated 19th Jan 2017
Louis Tomlinson lost his mum Johannah Deakin at the end of 2016 when she tragically lost her battle with leukaemia, and now the One Direction star has opened up for the first time since her death.
Louis admitted it's not something he likes to talk about but revealed it was his mum who told him to 'keep going'.
Speaking to SiriusXM, he said, "It’s not something that I feel 100 per cent comfortable talking too much about but just quickly, when I first found out the news I kind of did want to throw the towel in.
"But it was my mum who said to me that I’ve just got to keep going, telling me very sternly that she wanted me to."
He later added, "So I’m not doing it for her but it was tough, but I felt like it was nice for me to almost have a little send off for her."
Louis received praise when he bravely went through with his X Factor final performance just days after her death. The 25-year-old performed his debut solo track 'Just Hold On' in tribute to his mum and had viewers at home in tears.
Simon Cowell also praised Louis for his bravery, holding back the tears he said, "Louis, what you've just done and the bravery that took, I just respect you so much as an artist and as a person."
Watch the emotional performance below:
Johannah died at the age of only 42 last December. The sad news was broken in a heartfelt statement by her husband Dan. It read:
“Johannah was first and foremost a truly amazing mother to seven children – Louis (24), Lottie (18), Félicité (16), and two sets of twins, Phoebe and Daisy (12) and Ernest and Doris (2) – whose individual talents and success are testament to the principles and beliefs she instilled in them. She was also an incredibly proud grandmother to Freddie.
“Incredibly selfless, she would always look to put other people before herself. She desired nothing more than for everyone around her to be happy and loving. She worked tirelessly on numerous charity campaigns, creating memories for many individuals and their families. It wasn’t uncommon for Johannah to hear through the media of an individual in need of assistance, and she would immediately make it her objective to get that person what they often desperately needed, and rarely without success.
“These are the things that made Johannah happy and content in life, and all of which for me made her simply the perfect wife and best friend to face each day with. I thoroughly loved walking through life with her, and though five years was far too short a time, during that time we had so many lifetimes worth of happiness, adventures, and memories."
As well as Louis, Johannah has another six children, including two-year-old twins Ernest and Doris. She also left behind her grandson Freddie, Louis' first child whom he shares with his ex-girlfriend Briana Jungwirth.