Jessie J made a triumphant and emotional return to the stage over the weekend, performing for the first time since undergoing breast cancer surgery earlier this summer. The 36-year-old singer took part in BBC Radio 2’s In the Park festival in Chelmsford, Essex, where she not only marked her comeback but also experienced another personal milestone: her two-year-old son watching her perform live for the very first time.

Appearing before a supportive festival crowd, Jessie addressed the audience with honesty about her health journey. “Some of you may know, some of you may not know, but I had breast cancer surgery 11 weeks ago today,” she revealed during her set, in a moment captured and later shared on her social media. “And the last show I did, I had no idea what was going to happen, and I’m still very much in the recovery process. But I’m just so grateful to be here, you have no idea how grateful I am to see so many of you singing along after all these years.”

Adding to the emotional weight of the night, Jessie explained that it was her young son’s first time seeing her perform on stage. Wearing protective earmuffs, he waved to his mother from the side of the stage before eventually joining her under the bright lights. Jessie shared backstage and onstage moments in a video posted online, offering fans a glimpse of the intimate family milestone alongside highlights from her performance.

The singer has been open about motherhood since welcoming her first child in 2023, often sharing the balancing act of raising her son while navigating the demands of her career and, more recently, her health challenges.

Before performing her latest track, “Living My Best Life,” Jessie spoke candidly about the timing of the song’s release and how its message has become deeply personal. She revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer just two weeks before the song was due to be released. While some in her circle suggested postponing the rollout, Jessie insisted on pressing forward.

“That’s not what life’s about,” she said. “Life is about standing in the storm but holding up your umbrella and just keep moving forward.”

She went on to add, “So this song is called ‘Living My Best Life,’ and that is what I’m doing every single damn day. Because we never know when our last day will be, so soak this up, hug the people you love hard.” The crowd responded with loud applause, underscoring the song’s resonance given her recent health battle.

Jessie J confirmed her breast cancer diagnosis in June, which led to a mastectomy. Following the initial surgery, she shared that doctors were confident the cancer had not spread. However, she faced complications that required a second hospital admission six weeks later.

In August, she updated fans about her treatment plan, revealing that additional surgery was necessary before the end of the year. The procedure forced her to cancel all U.S. dates of her No Secrets tour and postpone shows across the U.K. and Europe. While she reassured fans that the operation was “nothing too serious,” she admitted the timing clashed with her touring schedule and had to take priority.