Michael Bublé says his son’s cancer diagnosis was a ‘sledgehammer to my reality’

Michael Bublé is opening up about how his young son’s cancer diagnosis shifted his priorities.

The 48-year-old Canadian singer recently appeared on the Diary of a CEO podcast, where he reflected on how his young son, Noah, was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2016.

“My son’s cancer diagnosis rocked my world and pulled the curtain from over my eyes,” Bublé told host Steven Bartlett. “That was a sledgehammer to my reality. I will never be carefree again in my life, and that’s okay. It is a privilege for me to exist. That pain, the fear, the suffering that comes with those sort of things, I guess it’s part of this beautiful life.”

Bublé has four children — Noah, Elias, Vida, and Cielo — with his wife Luisana Lopilato. Noah, now 10, was diagnosed with liver cancer when he was only 3 years old. He’s since been in remission since 2017.

“When it actually happened, I was going through, I think, a crisis,” Bublé continued. “I don’t think I had my priorities straight. My family was always the love [of my life] and I don’t think I was a terrible guy, but it was blinders: career, ambition. How do I become the baddest, biggest, best? More ego, more power, more money?”

Instead, Bublé explained, his family’s health struggles helped him rethink his priorities. He remembered being at a children’s hospital immediately after Noah’s diagnosis and making a promise to himself.

“I remember closing my eyes and saying to myself, ‘If we get out of this, I’m going to live a different life, a better life,’” Bublé said. “And I did. I made that promise to myself in like a moment. I want to be kinder. I want to be more empathetic. I don’t ever want to allow that ego and that false self to take over. I want to know how lucky I am.”

Bublé celebrated Noah’s 10th birthday earlier this year with an Instagram post. “Noa, mi amor, 10 years!!! What??” he wrote on social media. “It went so fast, you don’t even know how much we love you. Thank you for teaching us how to be parents and for all the memories we have and will make together!!!”

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Related content:

• Michael Bublé on how Paul McCartney and being a Swiftie shaped his new album
• Michael Bublé shares hilarious video of daughter saying she prefers Marvel superheroes to princesses
• Foo Fighters invite 'superfan' Michael Bublé on stage for their cover of his song 'Haven't Met You Yet'