Carly Rae Jepsen says she has never planned her career around a set “strategy”.

The 40-year-old singer is writing the music and lyrics for a stage adaptation of the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You. She believes her role in a 2014 production of Cinderella helped lead her to the new project.

“I don’t think 10 Things would have happened had I not said yes to Cinderella back then,” the Call Me Maybe singer told People.

Carly’s career has taken her in several directions, though she says those choices were never part of a detailed plan.

“It sounds like I was smart and had a strategy. It wasn’t like that. I just got a phone call and I said yes,” she said.

At the time, trying something different felt like a “relief”.

“Sometimes I feel like the best decisions that I’ve made have been ones where I don’t overthink it too much, and I just sort of try it on and feel it and jump,” she explained.

She accepted the Cinderella role without hesitation and remains glad she took the opportunity.

“I feel really happy that I took that left turn. It’s actually brought so much,” Carly said.

The singer has also spoken about enjoying a “fresh new chapter” since becoming a mother for the first time.

Her son, Ilya Blue, was born seven months ago. Carly said she and her husband are still getting used to family life.

“You can see us coming from a mile away. We’re carrying strollers and diaper bags and eight other things,” she told People. Carly married musician Cole M.G.N in 2025.

“We’re figuring it out together, and it’s all so new to us. We’re really enjoying it.”

Carly also enjoyed making music during her pregnancy.

“I’ve had other chapters that have been lonelier, like I was on a journey not knowing where it was leading. It feels like a really fresh new chapter that I’m in now, with a family that I couldn’t be more grateful for,” she said.