Singer Sara Bareilles Tells UT Students: Give Grief the Space to be Heard

By Ally Bonsall

Reporting Texas

Following crises like the death of loved ones, IVF struggles and political turmoil, singer Sara Bareilles said she has learned that grief does not need to be fixed; it needs to be witnessed.

The Grammy Award-winning singer, actress and composer shared her ideas surrounding grief with students from the University of Texas School of Social Work at the Cactus Cafe on Tuesday. 

“The experience of grief is so universal,” Bareilles said. “People are tethered to this network that we don’t talk about. We don’t realize it’s a deep point of connection always.” 

Bareilles recently released “Good Grief,” her first solo album in seven years. In it, she explores her experience of embracing loss in its many forms.

Ahead of her Tuesday night performance at Bass Concert Hall, the singer visited UT-Austin for a candid conversation about loss with Andy Langer, the Co-director of arts and humanities at the Moritz Center for Societal Impact at the School of Social Work. 

Throughout the conversation, Bareilles commended the students for choosing to pursue careers in social work. 

“Kudos to all of you for making these little villages in all the rooms that you’re ever in and inviting people to bring one’s heart to the surface,” Bareilles said.  

In 2020, Bareilles’ friend and manager, Chad Joseph, died, followed by her longtime collaborator and Broadway star, Gavin Creel, in 2024. Bareilles said she found comfort from people around her who were willing to sit in her grief with her, rather than just rushing to fix her pain.

“I can’t imagine what I would do in either scenario without the people that were either walking through it with me or just allowing me to have my experience,” Bareilles said.

Ivonne Vasquez, a master’s student at the School of Social Work, said Bareilles’ idea resonated with her. 

“Sara emphasized giving agency to the person who’s going through grief,” Vasquez said. “And rather than trying to fix it, to go through the process with them.” 

Elisa Borah, director of the Moritz Center for Societal Impact, said grief can be isolating. She praised Bareilles for giving grief a stage to be heard. 

“We all know that grief is a shared yet often ignored human experience,” Borah said. “By talking about it, we can give ourselves and our clients the attention it deserves.” 

Bareilles said she is witnessing the unifying power that grief holds. While discussing her current tour, she described watching people connect at her concerts as a holy experience. 

Bareilles recently created a public voicemail box, encouraging people to share their stories anonymously. She has incorporated some of these stories into her live performances. She said thousands of people have called in to share their experiences of loss.

She told the student crowd that hearing the callers’ stories has strengthened her relationship with her audience.  

“I’ve never felt closer to the audience,” Bareilles told Reporting Texas. “There’s so much wisdom. There’s so much creativity. There’s so much vulnerability and courage,” she said. “I’m just in awe of what people are sharing.”