Who Is Haylie Duff? Inside Her Relationship With Sister Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff has returned to the music spotlight with her latest album, Luck… or Something, and along with it, she has shed light on a deeply personal chapter of her life. The singer has revealed that her strained relationship with her elder sister, Haylie Duff, inspired one of the album’s most emotional tracks, describing the estrangement as “the most lonely part of her life.”

According to People, Hilary confirmed that the song We Don’t Talk was written directly from her experience of growing apart from Haylie. The revelation has renewed public interest in Haylie Duff and the once-close bond the sisters shared during their rise to fame.

Who is Haylie Duff?

Haylie Duff was born on February 19, 1985, and built a successful career as an actress, singer, and entrepreneur. She rose to prominence in the early 2000s, appearing in popular television shows and films such as 7th Heaven and Napoleon Dynamite. She also performed on Broadway, including roles in productions of Hairspray, and explored music alongside acting.

Beyond entertainment, Haylie expanded into lifestyle and business ventures. She launched the food blog The Real Girl’s Kitchen, which later evolved into a cookbook and a Cooking Channel series. As reported by Forbes, she also founded Little Moon Society, a sustainable children’s clothing brand. Haylie is engaged to entrepreneur Matt Rosenberg, and the couple shares two daughters, Ryan and Lulu.

A once-iconic sister duo

At the height of their Disney Channel fame, Hilary and Haylie Duff were among Hollywood’s most recognisable sibling pairs. Haylie frequently collaborated with Hilary on music, contributing vocals and co-writing songs for albums such as Metamorphosis. The sisters also appeared together in films like Material Girls and recorded duet tracks, including Our Lips Are Sealed. Haylie even made appearances on Hilary’s hit Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire.

What led to their estrangement?

Over time, however, the sisters’ close personal and professional relationship reportedly grew distant. According to CBS News, Hilary has acknowledged that they no longer speak regularly and that the separation has been emotionally difficult. While neither sister has publicly detailed the exact cause of the fallout, reports suggest the distance developed gradually rather than stemming from a single incident.

Hilary has said she struggled with sharing such private pain publicly but ultimately chose to express it through her music. Reflecting on the estrangement, she described it as particularly isolating, having grown up with Haylie as both a sibling and creative partner.

Music as emotional release

Hilary’s new album, Luck… or Something, released in February 2026, marks her first full-length project in nearly a decade. According to Billboard, the album draws heavily from her personal experiences, including motherhood, relationships, and family struggles. The track We Don’t Talk stands out for its raw emotional honesty and unresolved feelings surrounding her relationship with Haylie.

Some of the lyrics read:
“I’m not sure when it happened, not even sure what it was about / If I did something different, would you feel something different? / Would you at least let me hear you out?”

With the album, Hilary Duff has not only made a long-awaited musical comeback but has also offered fans a candid glimpse into one of the most painful and personal chapters of her life.