Shakira is about to release her 12th studio album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, which is her first new release in seven years. In an interview with The Sunday Times, the acclaimed Colombian singer finally explained why fans had to wait so long for new music: Her career took a backseat to that of her longtime partner, retired soccer star Gerard Piqué. “For a long time I put my career on hold, to be next to Gerard, so he could play football,” she said. “There was a lot of sacrifice for love.” Shakira and Piqué, who have two sons together, split in 2022 amid rumors that the footballer cheated on her. She told the Times the differences between them proved too much for their relationship: “Empathy is key in an artist’s work. An athlete is in a constant state of war and has to avoid empathy at all costs.” Her feelings toward Piqué—and his new girlfriend, who is 22 years younger than Shakira—drive some songs on her new album, which drops March 22.