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Sheena Easton was one of pop music’s biggest icons in the ’80s. The Scottish singer, 66, rose to fame with iconic songs like “Morning Train (Nine to Five),” “Strut,” and “Sugar Walls.” Also known for her association with Prince, the beloved music star was one of the most prominent hitmakers of her day. But in a revealing new interview with the New York Times, Easton, who hasn’t released a new album in 25 years, opened up about why she prefers a life that’s high on privacy. “I’m not being shoved in people’s faces anymore, which means I can lead a very normal life 99 percent of the time,” she noted. Looking Back on the ’80s Easton worked tirelessly through the ’80s, turning out nine studio albums and touring constantly between 1981 and 1988, the Times piece points out. She skyrocketed to superstardom, but always kept her head on straight in an era when chaos was typical. “What got me through the craziness of those years was that my instinct was always to go towards normal things, to stay as grounded as possible,” she said. “I felt like, this is all a wonderful fantasy, but I don’t ever want to start believing it’s real.” 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Realizing She Wanted More By the early ’90s, Easton realized she wanted children. (She went on to adopt a son and a daughter.) She said the schedule worked out quite well, because she “did eight shows a week for two and a half years straight, and it worked out great because the kids would go to bed, and that’s when I would go to work.” However, she eventually realized she wanted out of the rat race. “But there came a point where I thought, I need to change my life. At the risk of a horrible cliché, that’s when I got off the merry-go-round. I didn’t want to be in my 50s and 60s looking back thinking all I’ve ever done was make records, get on a tour bus, do a bunch of TV — rinse and repeat. I wanted something more,” she continued. She’s Loving Her Current Life At 66, Easton is happier than ever. “Now I drive a Prius,” she laughed. “And I like my Prius.” She says she isn’t tempted by the extravagances of stardom, and instead prefers to stay home and play video games. However, she still frequently performs.
