Heartbreak for Nutini and long-term girlfriend as they decide to split up
SHE was the high school sweetheart who inspired some of Paolo Nutini’s most poignant love songs.
His haunting hit Last Request, from his debut album, and Growing Up Beside You, from its follow-up, were tributes to his long-time girlfriend Teri Brogan.
But yesterday, the father of the Paisley-born singer confirmed that the couple’s ten-year relationship was over.
‘It’s true,’ said Alfredo Nutini, who owns a fish and chip shop in the town. ‘I wouldn’t like to say anything more, but it’s true. It happened a while ago.’
Miss Brogan said: ‘It’s a private
‘Fame strained their relationship’
matter – we are still great pals.’
Sources close to the couple blamed the pressures of his fame as an international star.
One said: ‘Teri was with Paolo before he was famous and his fame put a strain on their relationship. He was away touring and recording a lot.’
Miss Brogan, also 26, has reportedly left the home she shared with the star in Renfrewshire and has moved back in with her parents.
The couple met at St Andrew’s Academy in their home town and began dating when they were both aged 15.
The star has disclosed that a breakup with Miss Brogan inspired his debut album These Streets in 2006, which sold 2.3million copies.
In 2010 they had another temporary split and Nutini said then: ‘Things aren’t good between us. We’ve had some ups and downs before so hopefully we’ll be OK.’
But Miss Brogan, a model, then set her relationship status on Facebook to ‘single’, admitting: ‘We are going through a hard time.
‘It’s undecided. It is a personal matter, I can’t tell you anything.’
Yet only a couple of years ago Nutini was talking about having children with Miss Brogan.
He said: ‘I have got more and more friends now who are having babies and they’re so cute. There could be no greater blessing when I’m ready.’
He admitted Miss Brogan had initially been jealous of his success before she launched her own career with fashion chain Cruise.
In 2011, he said: ‘When you’re excited about what you’re doing and they’re not, it builds up resentment. Now I’m thinking, “Where do I go? What do I do?” and she’s all focus.’
‘Essentially what she’s planning on doing is going all over the world and buying clothes. What could she love more?’