Kian Egan: "I've said no to some big TV jobs so I can be at home with Jodi. She misses her mum a lot. It's so tough."

The Voice of Ireland coach says he is putting family before work following the tragic loss of Jodi's mother Eileen last month

Kian, pictured with Jodi and Koa, says he is putting family first after Jodi's beloved mum Eileen passed away last month

Voice Of Ireland coach Kian Egan has revealed he turned down work to be with his wife since the death of her mum.

Jodi’s mother Eileen passed away on February 23 following an eight-year battle with cancer.

The pair are expecting their second child in May and Kian said he needs to be close to home to help his wife through this difficult time.

The former Westlife star added: “Jodi is very sad and upset – she is just trying to take it day by day and moment by moment.

“Her mum would have wanted to her be focusing on the new baby and getting prepared for that.

“She is heartbroken – we are all heartbroken.

“It is a very tough time for the family, for her, and we are trying to support her as much as we can and keep her going as much as we can and keep the positive things that are in front of her.

“But she is missing her mum like crazy as you can imagine – a girl losing her mum just as she is about to become a mum for the second time. It’s a very hard time.

“But Jodi is amazing because every day she is waking up and trying to focus on the positive things, not block it out but get on with it the best she can in the situation that is in front of her.”

Kian Egan and wife Jodi

Devastated Kian said he feels robbed that Eileen was taken from them at such a young age.

He added: “Eileen was a very strong woman and she had eight years of really fighting hard.

“It’s never easy to see someone fight for her life for a long time and then lose the battle.

“We know there are a lot of people out there who are worse off than us but right now you feel robbed.

“She was a very young woman – she was only 61.

“She loved her life and she loved her children – it’s a very tough one but we just try and keep going as best we can, as that is what she would have wanted us to do.”

Kian is back on The Voice Of Ireland for the live shows which kicked off on Sunday.

But he said he will be travelling back and forth each night to Sligo so he can be with Jodi and their three-year-old son Koa.

Kian added: “My job involves packing a suitcase, going away for a few weeks then come back for a few weeks and there is just no structure in that.

“It is unfair to do that to my kids and Jodi is in a vulnerable position at the minute so I have just said no to everything.

“I have been offered some lovely jobs during the summer in the UK, some big TV shows I would really have enjoyed doing but I just had to say no.

“When I was in Westlife I devoted my life to that but I always said when I came out of the group work would take more of a back seat,
especially the family came along and now I live for being a dad.

“I have had an amazing career and I think you’ve got to learn when is right and when is wrong to say no to these things.”

Now Kian is helping other hopeful musicians

Kian’s dad Kevin passed away in 2009 from cancer and although he has had a fantastic career, the star said sadness touches everyone, no matter how glamorous their lives might seem.

He revealed: “Life is sad and we have had some tough times – when we look at our lives they are amazing in one sense in that we’ve been very lucky in our careers and so on.

“But on the other hand I am 35, Jodi is 31 and we have both lost a parent. It’s a very sad thing to happen and it makes you realise what life is all about.”

Kian said he wants to be the best he can be for Koa and Jodi and caring for them is what is getting him through.

He added: “When we look at Koa we just realise this is what it is all about.

“We look at the fact we have another baby on the way and just try and focus on that.”

Kian says wife Jodi saved him from becoming depressed

The singer said he was very touched when all of his former Westlife bandmates turned up for Eileen’s funeral.

Kian revealed: “They all came which was lovely and I spoke to them there.”

Kian and Jodi’s new baby is due in May and he is hoping there are no early arrivals as The Voice ends just two weeks before that.

He said: “The pregnancy is going well. Our baby is due in May. I will be coming off the last live show and two weeks
after that the baby will be arriving.

“I hope Jodi doesn’t go early and I hope she doesn’t go on a Sunday as it will cause huge controversy – I will have to have someone bringing me by helicopter up and down from Sligo to The Voice.
"If the baby does arrive early it will have to happen – otherwise I won’t be here.”

And Jodi is not the only pregnant lady Kian has to worry about as he put mum-to-be Helena Bradley Bates through to the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Helena’s fifth child is due at the beginning of May but her version of I Wanna Know What Love Is by Foreigner was enough to get her a spot in her mentor’s top six.

Kian is well used to looking after expectant mums as Kelly McDonagh Mongan was also heavily pregnant when she was performing as part of his team a couple of years ago.

He said: “It’s crazy – when I turned around for Helena in the blind auditions I had no idea she was pregnant so when she told me a few days later it was a shock.

“But she is certainly one of my best female vocalists.

“Maybe she could have the baby on a Monday so that she could be back on stage by the Sunday! She seems to be a strong woman so fingers crossed it’s not going to have an effect on her.

“Helena is due around May 2 so if she makes it to the final it will be very close.

“We are just going to have to take things week by week.”

The Voice Of Ireland returns to RTE One this Sunday at 6.30pm.

Source: www.irishmirror.ie/