Pop sensation Tate McRae recently shared an intriguing childhood anecdote about how her mother contributed to her impressive flexibility. The singer explained that her mom would stretch her hips as a baby to ensure she grew up with a dancer’s agility.

The Canadian artist, renowned for her dynamic and sultry stage presence, was asked to share her secrets to becoming a skilled dancer during an interview.

On the Las Culturistas podcast, McRae revealed, “My mom believes that your hips are shaped before the age of two. She would stretch me into splits before I turned two, which made my hips naturally more flexible. It’s a little trick if you hope to raise a dancer daughter.”

McRae added, “I can do the splits; I also practiced gymnastics when I was young.”

She humorously recalled, “They would position your front leg on one chair and your back leg on another, then sit on your knees. It was a tearful experience lasting several minutes.”

‘And you’d just be sobbing, for like minutes.’ 

Popstar Tate McRae has revealed her mum would stretch her hips out when she was a baby to ensure she would be flexible when she was older

Speaking on the Las Culturistas podcast, she said: ‘My mum says your hips form before you’re two years old, so if you stretch your babies hips, and she did this to me, she would stretch me in the splits before I was two.’

She said: ‘I can do the spits, I did gymnastics when I was younger too. They would take your first leg on a chair, your back leg on a chair and then sit on your knees. And you’d just be sobbing, for like minutes.’

Tate, 22, began dancing aged six  attending Canada’s prestigious Alberta Ballet for 11 hours a day, filling her free time with competitions and galas. 

On the side she took lessons in rhythmic gymnastics with ‘super-intense Russian coaches’ to improve her flexibility.

At age 13 she joined the cast of the 13th season of, coming in third place, making her the highest placing Canadian in the reality show’s history.

At the time she performed a backwards walkover that prompted judge Paula Abdul to say: ‘You are a gift from God.’

In 2011 she launched a dance YouTube channel which saw her dance for fellow Canadian Justin Bieber’s 2016 Purpose world tour.

In 2017 she then pivoted to singing, posting original songs she had written to her YouTube channel. 

Those videos helped McRae land a recording contract with RCA Records in 2019

Speaking about why she wanted to become a pop star, she told the podcast: ‘It’s always been about not being able to explain myself, but then being able to fully through dance and singing and feeling so seen exactly how I want.’ 

Tate began dancing aged six attending Canada’s prestigious Alberta Ballet for 11 hours a day, filling her free time with competitions and galas. On the side she took lessons in rhythmic gymnastics with ‘super-intense Russian coaches’ to improve her flexibility 

Most recently, Tate, who split from Australian rapper Kid Laroi, 22, five months ago, became romantically linked to Jack last month when they enjoyed dinner in Manhattan

Nominated for a Grammy this year for Best Dance-Pop Recording for her song Just Keep Watching from the F1 movie soundtrack, all eyes are on her. 

Most recently, Tate and NHL star Jack Hughes continued to spark dating rumours as they headed out in New York City just before Christmas.

The singer, and the American ice hockey player, 24, were all smiles as they strolled through the city together.

Tate, who split from Australian rapper Kid Laroi, 22, six months ago, became romantically linked to Jack in November when they enjoyed dinner in Manhattan.

Jack plays for the New Jersey Devils and is currently signed to an eight-year, $64million contract.

Eagle-eyed fans noticed she was in the stands at the New Jersey Devils hockey game at the Prudential Center in New Jersey recently.

Just before the hitmaker got candid about feeling overwhelmed by the scrutiny she’s faced in the wake of her high-profile break-up.

The rising star split from The Kid Laroi in July after about a year of dating.

And the singer has admitted that she struggled to cope with the attention that subsequently came her way.

‘It was really scary and overwhelming, I would never talk that way, even about my friends’ lives,’ she told Rolling Stone.