SA country music queen Beccy Cole reveals how she survived one of the darkest periods of her life

SA country music queen Beccy Cole has revealed how art, music and equine therapy helped her through one of the darkest periods of her life - her split with fellow musician Libby O’Donovan.

South Australia’s country music queen Beccy Cole has emerged from one of the darkest periods of her life to receive the industry’s highest accolade, with the help of family, friends ... and a few horses.

Cole was inducted into the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown while hosting the Tamworth Country Music Awards with Adam Harvey last week.

She then went on to play a sold out show.

This was however the first public appearance this year of the singer, who has released 10 studio albums and won 11 Golden Guitar Awards.

On Boxing Day last year, her marriage with fellow musician Libby O’Donovan collapsed.

“It went from a beautiful life to a really unfortunate situation,” Cole says and admits she went on a downward spiral.

But she says friends, family and colleagues rallied around her.

“The support was unbelievable,” she says.

“I had a group of people – my brother, sister-in-law and son included who were basically on a roster with me.

“They sat with me while I slept. They saved my life.”

Beccy Cole performs during the Tamworth Country Music Festival 50th Anniversary Concert on April 21, 2022 in Tamworth, Australia. Photo by Klae McGuinness/Getty Images.

She says the stress was so intense she even lost her singing voice for a while.

“I felt so unworthy and didn’t feel worthy of my life,” she says.

“That is a horrible thing to say now because I feel so much more in front of it, but that’s the reality.”

Concerned she was continuing to decline, Cole checked into a centre in Queensland, where she did art therapy, music therapy –. and even equine therapy.

“The mention of equine therapy made me a little bit cynical,” Cole says.

“But it was one of the most incredible things I have experienced, to be with horses who are so intuitive, they can feel what you’re going through.”

During regular sessions with a psychologist, with whom Cole is still working, she began to regain her voice.

“Ultimately you have to be the one who pulls yourself out of the quicksand, the staff helped guide me, but you had to do the work,” she says.

“On my last day at the facility I brought my guitar to the horses and sang.

“This miniature horse named Sparkles came and put her head on my lap as I was singing.

“It was like she was saying ‘You’re back, you’ve got your voice back’.”

Back in Tamworth, her bounce and bubble were back, and she was rapt to receive country music’s most prestigious award.

“It felt amazing, that’s the highest accolade you can get in country music in this country, Slim Dusty’s on there too and that means the absolute world,” she says..

“Golden guitars aside, longevity is the best accolade, so to have the Roll of Renown is incredible.”

Cole (right) with ex-wife Libby O'Donovan at the Cabaret Festival in Adelaide in 2020. Photo The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette.

Her sold out live show days later was played to more than 800 fans.

“I’ve been playing there for 24 years and love it every year, but this time the love in the room was tangible,” she says.

“That was 100 per cent of my healing.

“I’ve always been an advocate for mental health but I had never experienced that kind of broken.

“Someone said to me you’ll be like a phoenix out of the ashes and I rolled my eyes, but that’s honestly how it feels.

Cole is already packing for her next “Aussie Road Crew” tour which sees fans camp and travel with the singer across the country.

“I want to show women who are getting to a mature age, that life isn’t over, I feel like I have many more years of touring in me.

“My psychologist has asked me ‘what is life showing you right now, what is the universe telling you?’

“I’ve had all of this stuff happen, the accolade, and the world is showing me I’ve done the work and I’m doing what I can.

“I feel energised, I’m still a work in progress, but I feel ready for the road, ready for the songs.”

O’Donovan said she would cherish the nine years the pair spent together.

“It is my hope always that our respect and love for each other continues as we navigate the next chapter,” she said.