X Factor legend gives up music to ‘spread the Lord’s message’

X Factor star Talia Dean has revealed she is quitting music to “spread the Lord’s message”.

The 39-year-old singer starred in the ITV competition in 2017, where she was brought back into Nicole Scherzinger’s Over 28s as Wild Card.

She ended up coming away in 15th place, with Simon Cowell’s group Rak-Su winning that year.

And although she continued to dedicate herself to music over the years, sharing singing videos on social media and working with other stars, Talia has now given it all up.

In a new Instagram post, she announced: “It took me a long time to find my way back to Christ after many years of being on the wrong path, constantly sinning and rebelling.

“I had been finding my way in the dark for many years without even realizing I was there…

“Music has always been a great passion. I have written songs for other artists and films.

“I worked most regularly with Queen Legend, Sir Brian May…”

She continued: “I have now left the traditional music industry to spread the message of the Lord…

“I now lead worship and undertake many incredible projects in Jesus’ name. It fills my heart with light and love, more than I have ever felt.

Her message was shared in collaboration with the Catholic Talent Agency, which helps event organizers locally and nationally find speakers, performers and creatives, according to their website.

Fans shared their confusion in the comments, with @@samrussell_reclaim writing: “Have you been hacked?”

@clara_batten_ said: “Oh, it’s sad to hear that you left the mainstream music industry to do this. Everyone has their own religious point of view, but putting your passion and talent aside to focus on that… I’m not sure about Talia.

Others said the news was “wonderful” and shared how happy they were for Talia.

The singer, who has an eight-year-old son, was 32 when she stunned judges with her performance of I Put A Spell On You on The X Factor.

She later became the lead singer of Kings Daughter, before releasing her singles after going solo in 2021.

Since becoming famous, Talia has spoken openly about a rare condition she called axial spondyloarthritis (or axial SpA), after it took more than 15 years to get a diagnosis.

This disease is a form of arthritis that can cause pain and swelling in the spine and other joints, as well as back pain and stiffness, fatigue, and weight loss.

In a 2021 interview, Talia feared that in five years she would no longer be able to walk without assistance, recalling how her unbearable pain forced her to drop out of a course studying music, theater and dance when she was teenage girl.

“It went on for weeks, to the point where I ended up going to points A and E and just saying, ‘I can’t walk, it really hurts.’ So at 18, I’m on crutches and no one really knows why,” she told the BBC.

She continued: “It felt like someone had stabbed me. It was horrible and it never really went away. My back just always hurt and I always felt tired.

When the pain returned after a few years without symptoms, she had a “complete breakdown” and thought she was “dying.”

She has since been raising awareness and advising people with similar symptoms to get checked, and at the time, she shared her hope of starting biological therapy after finally receiving a diagnosis.

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