Fifth Harmony’s Ally Brooke is giving some behind-the-scenes insight in her new memoir, which was released this week.
In the book, Finding Your Harmony, Brooke reveals how the hit girl group had the option to replace Camila Cabello, 23, when she left to embark on a solo career in 2016.
The 27-year-old singer opened up about that pivotal time in the group’s history, explaining how there were ‘several different options and routes’ the band could have taken upon Cabello’s exit.
Finding Your Harmony: Fifth Harmony’s Ally Brooke, 27, reveals in her new book that the hit girl group had the option to replace Camila Cabello, 23, when she left the to pursue a solo career in 2016
The plan: Either find a new member through a reality search competition, or to replace Cabello with a well known artist.
‘There were a lot of different ideas floating around,’ she shared,
In the end she and remaining members Normani Kordei, 24, Dinah Jane, 23, and Lauren Jauregui, 24, decided to push forward as a foursome.
‘[We] decided, “Hey. We think it would be odd to all of a sudden bring someone.” The four of us have a history, and we know what we went through together.
Fifth Harmony: The hit-making girl group were faced with a decision to round out their group with a new fifth member, after Cabello’s exit (pictured right); May 2016 at BBMAs
Tough choices: Upon Cabello’s exit, Brooke revealed that management had thrown out the ideas of replacing her with someone from a reality show competition or a well known artist; pictured 2020
‘We know our journey. We know each other. We felt like there was no question that we should continue on as we were,’ she wrote.
Despite the ultimate decision to move on without a fifth member, Ally shared that management threw out one artist that really piqued her interest.
‘I don’t know if I can share, but one would’ve been really cool,’ said Brooke.
She continued, ‘She’s at the top now, and everybody loves her. I love her. That wasn’t what we felt like would be right for our group, even though we love this other singer, and she’s awesome.’
‘Fourth Harmony’: After deciding not to replace Cabello, the remaining members (left to right) Brooke, Normani, Jane and Jauregui continued to perform; pictured 2016
Ally added that though exciting, the prospect was likely doubtful.
‘She probably wouldn’t have accepted anyways because she probably would’ve said the same thing, like, ‘I don’t know if I should step in here.’ And her career is already blowing up,’ she said.
In addition to discussing her career as a popstar, Brooke continued to divulge that her time in the limelight was filled with what she deems, ‘the great sadness.’
Hollywood Raw: Ally spoke on the podcast, Hollywood Raw, where she talked all things Fifth Harmony and shared some inside snippets of her book; pictured October 2020
‘The fans would call me their sunshine and I felt it was my duty and my responsibility – no matter what happened — to go out and smile,’ she shared.
The Texas native added, ‘I tried to be that for a very long time but it took a toll behind the scenes when the lights would go off.’
The group ultimately made the decision to indefinitely disband in the spring of 2018.
Since her departure in 2016, Cabello’s solo career has taken off, with hit songs Havana and Senorita launching her to the top of the charts.
Stepping out solo: Since the decision to embark on a solo career, Cabello has exploded, with songs Senorita and Havana sweeping many awards; pictured March 2020