Hailee Steinfeld has confirmed that she is currently not planning a return to the music industry, revealing that the creative fulfillment she once found in pop stardom has diminished in recent years. The Oscar-nominated actress and singer opened up about her musical hiatus during an intimate Q&A session for her Beau Society newsletter, offering fans a rare glimpse into her evolving relationship with her parallel career as a recording artist.
The 29-year-old performer, who has successfully balanced acting and singing for nearly a decade, explained that while music remains deeply important to her, the current state of the industry no longer provides the same satisfaction it once did. “While I have no plans to make music right at this exact moment, do I think about it? All the time,” Steinfeld shared with subscribers. “Music has always been a huge part of my life, and if it makes sense to get back in a studio, it’s an easy yes.” However, she quickly added a significant caveat, noting that the landscape has shifted dramatically since she first entered the pop scene.
Steinfeld first captured audiences’ attention as a singer when she appeared in the 2015 musical comedy Pitch Perfect 2, holding her own alongside established vocal powerhouses. That same year, she released her debut EP Haiz, which introduced her as a serious pop contender. The project achieved moderate commercial success, peaking at number 57 on the U.S. Billboard 200, and spawned the platinum-certified single “Love Myself,” an empowering anthem that became synonymous with her early musical identity. The track’s music video, which explored themes of self-love and independence, sparked conversations about female artistry and autonomy in pop music.
She followed up with her second EP, Half Written Story, in 2020, which arrived during a period of significant personal and professional transition. The project showcased a more mature songwriting approach and included collaborations with prominent producers. Throughout her musical career, Steinfeld delivered several hits that resonated with audiences worldwide, including “Starving” featuring Grey and Zedd, which achieved multi-platinum status, and “At My Best” featuring DNCE. These tracks demonstrated her versatility as an artist capable of delivering both introspective lyrics and infectious pop hooks.
Her most recent solo offering came in 2023 with the sun-drenched track “SunKissing,” a breezy departure from her earlier work that suggested an artist comfortable with evolution. While the song received positive reviews from critics who appreciated its laid-back vibe, it failed to replicate the commercial momentum of her earlier releases. More recently, Steinfeld contributed to the soundtrack of her 2025 film Sinners, marking her most recent musical output, though she clarified that these projects feel distinct from pursuing a full-fledged music career.
During her newsletter conversation, Steinfeld drew a specific connection to fellow artist Charli XCX, who has been increasingly vocal about the challenges facing musicians in the contemporary landscape. “I love the way Charli XCX writes about this,” Steinfeld stated, referencing the British pop star’s willingness to address industry pressures head-on. Charli’s acclaimed 2024 album Brat explored similar territory, with tracks examining the exhausting nature of maintaining relevance in a content-saturated environment and the psychological toll of constant public scrutiny. The album resonated deeply with industry insiders and fans alike for its unflinching honesty about the darker aspects of pop stardom.
Steinfeld’s comments arrive at a moment when numerous artists have begun questioning the sustainability of traditional music careers. The rise of streaming platforms, shortened attention spans, and the pressure to maintain constant social media engagement have fundamentally altered how musicians connect with audiences. For performers like Steinfeld, who entered the industry during a transitional period between physical album sales and digital dominance, these changes have been particularly pronounced.
The actress-singer’s decision to step back from music allows her to focus more intensely on her acting career, which continues to flourish. Following her acclaimed performance in the Apple TV+ series Dickinson, she has taken on increasingly complex roles. Her upcoming film Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler and featuring Michael B. Jordan, represents another significant step in her cinematic journey. The horror-thriller has generated considerable buzz, and Steinfeld’s involvement in its soundtrack demonstrates how she continues to engage with music on her own terms, even without committing to a full album cycle.
Fans who discovered Steinfeld through her music may find the news disappointing, but her comments suggest the door remains open for future projects. Her characterization of a potential studio return as “an easy yes” indicates that the right circumstances could lure her back into recording. Whether that might involve collaborations with artists she admires, soundtrack work that complements her film projects, or a full-fledged return when the industry evolves remains to be seen.
For now, Steinfeld joins a growing list of multi-hyphenate performers who have chosen to prioritize one aspect of their careers over another, recognizing that sustained excellence across multiple disciplines requires sacrifices. Her honesty about feeling less creatively fulfilled by music resonates with broader conversations about artistic burnout and the importance of protecting one’s relationship with creative work. By speaking openly about her ambivalence, she offers validation to fellow artists navigating similar questions about when to push forward and when to step back.
The entertainment landscape continues to evolve, and artists like Steinfeld who entered the public eye as teenagers now face the challenge of growing up under constant observation. Her Beau Society newsletter, which provides a more controlled platform for communication with dedicated fans, represents one strategy for maintaining connection without the relentless demands of mainstream promotion. As she continues to build her filmography and explore new creative territories, her musical legacy remains intact, available for rediscovery by new listeners and cherished by those who followed her from those first empowering notes of “Love Myself.”
