Shaun Cassidy breaks down his decision to ditch performing for 40 years

Shaun Cassidy opted out of life as a singer at age 21 to have a more “stable” and “grounded” life.

The former teen star said in a new interview that he loved doing concerts and playing music when he was younger.

“I just found that writing and producing television, which has been my main job for much of the last three, four decades, just allowed me to have something closer to a normal life,” Cassidy told People.

The “American Gothic” creator explained that he wanted to have a “stable” and “grounded” life, unlike the one he had as a kid.

“I yearned for it as an adult, and it took me a while to find it, but I did, and I’m really grateful I did,” he shared.

Cassidy has created and written television over the past 40 years, notably working on projects such as 1997’s “Roar” starring Heath Ledger, the 2005 series “Invasion,” and recently NBC’s “New Amsterdam,” where he served as a writer and executive producer.

Cassidy returned to the stage after 40 years in 2020 with the “Magic of a Midnight Sky” tour, which ran until 2024.

He maintained the touring momentum in 2025 when he played in 57 cities across North America in the Road to Us Tour. He shared that upon the completion of the tour, his agent asked him if he was “ready to do that again.”

The “Invasion” writer told his agent that he loved performing, but needed to focus on his writing projects, to which his agent suggested he go on a “two-month holiday tour.”

Cassidy announced the 2026 Unwrapped Holiday Tour on July 21 via an Instagram post.

“I have some exciting news,” he began the post.

“We’re putting the band back together for a 2026 Unwrapped Holiday Tour!” the 67-year-old singer continued. “This November and December, we’ll be bringing you the songs you know and love, holiday favorites, new music, and stories from our many Cassidy family Christmases.”

The “Hard Love” singer explained his excitement in returning to touring after so many years. “It feels fresh,” Cassidy shared.

“One of the benefits of not having continued doing concerts all these years is none of these feels tired. I don’t hate the songs because I’ve been singing them for 40 years.”

The tour kicks off in Colorado on Nov. 5 and runs through the end of December.