Demi Lovato Opens Up About Rehab During Chicago Concert

By Laura Ferreiro

Demi Lovato is one of those rare people who seems to have wisdom beyond her years. The 20-year-old singer, who starred alongside the Jonas Brothers in the 2008 Disney Channel movie Rock Camp, has amassed a loyal fan following, perhaps in part because she's so outspoken and real.

At the B96 Pepsi Summer Bash in Chicago on Saturday, Lovato boldly told her fans that she went into a treatment center in their neighborhood to deal with her issues, and that doing so saved her life.

"A couple years ago, it's no secret, I had to go into treatment for a bunch of issues," she told the crowd. "I mean, I could name them all, [but] we ain't got time. I had to go away to treatment and I want to let you know that this treatment center is called Timberline Knolls. It was here in Lemont, Illinois."

The "X Factor" judge continued by telling the audience that if they face bullying or have eating or cutting disorders, they can get through them and get better, just like she did.

"Every time that I play Chicago, I don't know what it is," she said. "Maybe it's because I felt so much love here and I've been through so much. I just want you guys to know that when I come to Chicago, I never forget that this place is the place that saved my life. If anybody out there is dealing with an eating disorder, substance abuse, cutting, bullying, whatever it is—I want you guys to know that I've been through it and that I've gotten through it and you can do it too."

This isn't the first time Lovato has spoken frankly about receiving treatment for her issues and opened up about her personal life. In March 2012, MTV aired a documentary special, Stay Strong, about her time in rehab and recovery. Lovato also recently took to Twitter to encourage Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris Jackson, when she attempted suicide. She told Jackson to "stay strong" and to not let the bullies get her down. (The tweet has since been removed.)