Taylor Swift gets tearful over mum's cancer battle at concert

Taylor Swift gets tearful talking about her mum's cancer battle as she performs 'Ronan'

Published 19th Aug 2015

Taylor Swift got tearful talking about her mum's cancer battle as she performed 'Ronan' at a recent concert.

The song is inspired by 4-year-old Ronan Thompson, who died of cancer in 2011. During the performance Swift addressed Ronan's mother, Maya Thompson, who was in the audience.

"I wouldn't know half as much as I know about childhood cancer and childhood cancer research if she hadn't shared her story about her son Ronan."

"The thing about childhood cancer is that it's really, really hard to talk about. And it's really not something that you bring up...but the fact that she brought it up, she had this blog called Rockstar Ronan and I would read it every night. And in it was this account of what it was like to watch cancer take over my life."

The singer then became tearful as she thought about her mum's cancer battle.

"Since then, I've had cancer hit really close to me in my family. So because Maya's right there, I would like you to give her a round of applause, please. I just wanted to take a moment and try to play this song...I think because Maya's here tonight, I think she deserves it."

Maya Thompson also shared this photo of them backstage with Taylor on Instagram.

Watch Taylor perform Ronan in Glendale, Arizona.