Demi Lovato opens up about her inspiration for emotional track ‘Father’

Demi Lovato has spoken about how her late 'abusive' father inspired her to write her new emotional ballad, *Father. *

In a video released on her Vevo account, the former Disney star speaks talks about understanding the complicated relationship with Patrick Lovato, who passed away in 2013 from cancer.

"I was very conflicted when he passed because he was abusive," Demi explains in the clip.

More news!

"He was mean, but he wanted to be a good person. He wasn’t capable of raising a family, and it was because of his mental illness.

"To know that it wasn’t fully his fault really was saddening to me, and I wanted to write about it. I wanted to process it."

And in June 2014, Demi shared a collage of images to mark the year anniversary of her dad's death.

In the healing tribute, Demi sings: "I’m gonna say thank you/Even if I’m still hurt.

"I’m gonna say bless you/I wanna mean those words/Always wished you the best/I prayed for your peace/Even if you started this whole war in me."

Demi also opens up about using the song to process the complicated relationship with her dad and the ways the track helped her to do that.

*Father *is Demi's 11th song on new album Confident.

Demi Lovato's puppy Buddy: