Mandy Moore Weighs In on Mom Group Controversy, Hints at Possible Music Return

Mandy Moore is reflecting on recent headlines and opening the door to a musical future.

The actress, 42, sat down with Andy Cohen on SiriusXM's Andy Cohen Live on Monday (May 18) to chat about her new film The Breadwinner. The conversation touched on several topics, including the fallout from Ashley Tisdale's "toxic mom group" comments, the possibility of a music comeback following Hilary Duff's recent pop revival, and Moore's experiences touring with NSYNC early in her career.

Standing Up for Kindness and Female Support

When Cohen brought up the mom group controversy, Moore expressed how deeply the situation affected her. "It's wild to have anybody talk about your life," she explained, noting that while she and Duff have both experienced public scrutiny throughout their careers, this particular drama felt different—and more painful.

At the heart of Moore's concern was the suggestion that she might not embody the kindness she values most. "The most important thing in my life is being a kind person and the legacy of kindness," she said. "Anyone even insinuating that might not be the case is very upsetting."

Moore emphasized her preference for addressing conflicts directly rather than through public channels. More broadly, she pushed back against the narrative that women can't support one another, calling it a "silly trope." Since becoming a parent, she said she's been pleasantly surprised by the meaningful relationships she's built with other mothers and parents. "You need that community. You need to find that support wherever you can get it," Moore stressed.

Could a Music Comeback Be Next?

When Cohen suggested Moore might be "up to bat" for her own pop music revival—following Duff's celebration of her early hits—Moore was diplomatic. While she acknowledged it could be fun, she noted that being a pop star "is just not my bag" at 42.

Moore revealed that her husband, who is a musician, collaborates with her on music. Her most recent record came out four years ago, and any future musical ventures would likely follow a similar path: intimate performances in theaters and clubs rather than large-scale pop tours. "I'll let Hil just take over the world for all of us," Moore joked.

Her Kids Discovering "Candy"

One of the more touching moments came when Moore shared how her children have recently discovered her 1999 hit "Candy." Her husband introduced the song to their kids, and now her five-year-old asks to hear "the song that you made when you were my age." Moore's youngest, 18 months old, has also been bopping along to it in the car.

"If you would have told me at 15 that I'd have three kids and one day at 42 I'd be looking in the rearview mirror at all three of them singing along to this song, I would have thought you were crazy," she reflected.

Touring with Boy Bands in 1999

Moore opened up about her earliest days in the industry, revealing that "Candy" was her first professional job at age 15. After signing her record deal and filming the music video in Los Angeles, she immediately flew to Virginia Beach to open for NSYNC on their summer amphitheater tour in 1999.

She laughed about her status back then: "I was like the kid sister if they even knew that I was on the road with them." When Cohen asked if she had crushes on any band members, Moore admitted to admiring Justin Timberlake—and later, Nick Carter when she opened for the Backstreet Boys. As for Lance Bass, she joked that she didn't realize he was gay at the time, adding, "I wish I would have been like, 'Let's hang.'"