Sunny Sweeney Pens Personal Song, ‘Bottle By My Bed,’ About Miscarriage and Fertility Struggles
"People need to talk about this. We need to commiserate and lift each other up, both men and women. If my song can aid in that process, I feel we have done our job as songwriters,” Sweeney said.
Through the healing power of music, Sunny Sweeney is opening up about her personal struggles with starting a family.
The country singer paints the picture of a woman longing to become a mother despite facing hardships along the way in her latest song, “Bottle By My Bed.” Relating it back to her own journey with experiencing infertility and a miscarriage, Sweeney battled with the thought of releasing something so close to home while also believing it was the perfect way to start the conversation that plagues so many families worldwide.
The first night she performed the track live, Sweeney was approached by a very pregnant and sobbing woman.
“She said, ‘I know you hate me right now because I’m pregnant. I have spent my last couple of years mad at everyone that was pregnant,'” recalled Sweeney in a recent in-depth interview with People. “And she was right. It’s a very hard dynamic, because you are thrilled for your friends but you can’t help but question, ‘Why not me?’ She continued, ‘I want you to know that we have tried for years and he’s finally going to be here next week. Please do not give up on this if it’s what you want.’”
“It was almost like a sign that on the first night I sang it live, someone that had been ‘me’ in my situation was telling me to push forward with this,” she continued. “I have had some incredible reactions to this song. People want to talk about the subject. People need to talk about this. We need to commiserate and lift each other up, both men and women. If my song can aid in that process, I feel we have done our job as songwriters.”
Rounding out the track with a raw music video depicting the simple joys of parenting while Sweeney stands alone, it only triggers the hardships even more for those who had dealt with the same issues. After trying plenty of treatments throughout the years, Sweeney and her husband finally received good news that they were expecting. Over a few appointments though, the couple lost the sound of the heartbeat and their biggest nightmare was confirmed as they were told it was, in fact, a miscarriage.
Nevertheless, the ups and downs created a stronger bond between Sweeney and her partner and they build each other up even during the lowest of lows.
“This journey has absolutely made us closer. Miscarriage is complicated. People assume it’s only the woman who is suffering, but I tell you what, I have known my husband for 14 years and have never seen him so upset about something. He knew how badly I wanted the baby, and it was devastating for him to see his wife go through that pain,” she revealed.
As Sweeney and her husband explore new options to expand their family, she still thanks the power of music for providing a space to comfort her in times of sorrow. The country singer only hopes her minor effort at bringing peace to those dealing with similar struggles can shine a light to guide the way for others out there.
“Since I was a child, music has been my one constant,” Sweeney said. “I want to feel something when I listen to music — that’s the point, in my opinion. As my career has developed, it seemed like it was just a natural progression to make and sing songs that help connect us as humans. I try to make people feel something.”
Sweeney’s song, “Bottle By My Bed,” is available now.
