Hilary Duff’s music career is officially back—and millennials couldn’t be more thrilled.
The actor-singer, who shot to fame in the early 2000s with her role as the beloved Lizzie McGuire, released her new single, “Mature,” on Thursday, marking her long-awaited return to music after more than a decade. Her last studio album, Breathe In. Breathe Out., was released in June 2015, after which Duff shifted her focus to acting. She starred in popular TV series such as Younger (2015-2021) and How I Met Your Father (2022), a spin-off of the iconic How I Met Your Mother.
But now, at 38, Duff is back in the music scene, and the timing couldn’t be better. Her return coincides with a resurgence of millennial nostalgia, as fans from her generation—typically defined as those born between the early 1980s and the mid-1990s—are reconnecting with the pop culture icons of their youth.
Duff’s new single “Mature” is an introspective track that reflects her personal growth and evolving perspective on life and love. Speaking about the song’s meaning on Instagram, she explained: “It speaks to my mature self calling my not-so-mature self on the phone many years ago, and she’s letting her know we landed softly. This was a brief time with a lover that left me with so many questions… It felt like a good place to start.”
The music video for “Mature” debuted at 8 p.m. ET on the same day, offering fans a visual glimpse into her evolving sound and artistic direction. Duff shared her excitement for the release on social media, writing, “So happy this is finally yours to hear. Been keeping this one quiet too long.” Fans flooded her posts with love and support, with many expressing how hearing new music from her felt like a blast from the past.
One fan on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Remember when Hilary Duff tried to save pop music in 2025 and y’all let it SUCCEED?” while another added, “Hearing new Hilary Duff music in 2025 is so nostalgic it’s so so good.”
Duff’s return to music follows months of hints and teasers. In an interview with Variety last month, she revealed that she had been hard at work in the studio, collaborating with her husband, Matthew Koma, and other talented artists. “I always knew I’d return to music eventually,” Duff said. “I needed to feel safe and I needed to have the right people in my corner and be absolutely 100% ready. Honestly, I needed to have 10 years of life under my belt. I needed a lot to say. This album feels like the inner workings of my brain, and I really am so excited to connect with people again on that level, that very forward-facing level.”
Her return is more than just a musical comeback—it’s a personal reinvention. As a mother of four, Duff’s life has undergone significant changes, and her new music reflects her experiences and personal growth. “We’re getting something really soon,” she teased last month. “In the blink of an eye, you’ll hear more.”
In addition to the new single, Duff is working on a docuseries that will give fans a behind-the-scenes look at her return to music and her life as a mother, wife, and creative force.
Her husband, Koma, also shared his support for her return to music, posting a loving comment on Instagram, “Oh, so you ARE doing music again.”
For millennials who grew up with Duff’s early music and TV shows, her return feels like a dream come true, and it seems the pop star is ready to reclaim her place in the spotlight. Fans are eagerly awaiting more from her, with a sense that the best is yet to come.