Onstage and in tears, Dan Reynolds revealed how Aja saved his life during his darkest days.

Onstage and in tears, Dan Reynolds, the lead singer of Imagine Dragons, opened up about a deeply personal chapter of his life, revealing how his ex-wife, Aja Volkman, saved him during his darkest days. The emotional moment unfolded in front of a live audience, but the vulnerability in Dan’s voice made it feel intimate, as though he were speaking directly to each person in the crowd.

“Years ago,” he began, his voice cracking, “I didn’t think I was going to make it. I was drowning in depression, consumed by self-doubt, and questioning my purpose—onstage and off. I felt alone even in the spotlight.” The crowd fell silent, many visibly moved by the raw honesty coming from someone they saw as larger-than-life.

Dan credited Aja with pulling him back from the edge. “When I couldn’t get out of bed, she brought me light. When I felt unlovable, she showed me love I didn’t think I deserved. Even when things between us weren’t perfect, she believed in me more than I believed in myself.”

Though the couple had gone through separations and ultimately divorced, Dan made it clear that the bond they shared went beyond titles or relationship status. “Aja didn’t just save me once. She reminded me again and again that I was worth saving. That my pain didn’t define me, and that healing wasn’t linear—but possible.”

He spoke about how their four children became his motivation, and how Aja’s continued encouragement helped him seek therapy and embrace his vulnerabilities rather than hide them. “She never made me feel weak for feeling broken. She made me feel brave for facing it.”

As tears streamed down his face, Dan ended with a message not just to Aja, but to anyone who has been a lifeline for someone in pain. “We don’t always realize what a kind word, a steady hand, or a quiet presence can do for someone standing on the edge. Aja, you saved my life. I’ll never forget that.”

The crowd erupted in applause, not just for the music, but for the truth behind it. In that moment, Dan Reynolds wasn’t just a rockstar—he was a human being, healed in part by love, and courageous enough to share it.