Greyson Chance turned heartbreak into the album he never planned to make. The singer-songwriter opened up about a painful breakup, a health crisis and the independent journey behind his new record, BOYSTOWN.
The 29-year-old had spent years building his career after becoming a viral sensation as a tween. After struggling to secure a new record deal and suffering a serious lung collapse, Chance said he finally learned to put himself first.
Greyson Chance reveals how his ex’s desire for an open relationship led to their breakup
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Chance explained that his fifth album grew from a turbulent year. He had planned to release another project, but scrapped it after ending a three-and-a-half-year relationship in January. “I thought I was going to marry him, for sure,” Chance said.
The breakup followed a disagreement about his former partner wanting an open relationship. Chance stressed that queer people should feel free to choose monogamy without judgment. “I want queer people to know that they have a right to know what they want,” he said. “If that’s a closed relationship with one partner, you’re not a Puritan for thinking that.”
Chance said the exes no longer spoke, and he did not know whether his former partner would hear BOYSTOWN. “If he doesn’t like it, that’s his own problem,” he said. “Actions have consequences.”
Around the same period, Chance dealt with a frightening medical emergency. He was hospitalized with a collapsed lung in February 2025 and later developed pneumonia in both lungs. Doctors also linked his lung collapse to an eating disorder, prompting him to quit alcohol and marijuana during recovery.
“I need to prioritize myself first because I haven’t really done that throughout my career,” he said. He then returned to the piano and gave himself 21 days to finish BOYSTOWN. “You’re sad right now. You’re broken. Let this put you back together,” he recalled telling himself.
The album unfolded across three acts: rage, reality and detachment. Chance also called it “the most queer record I’ve ever done,” with visuals inspired by his Oklahoma childhood and first gay awakening. Now single, Chance hopes to tour again while protecting his health. “I am determined to keep going,” he said.
