Canadian singer Alanis Morissette has blamed her decision to take a two-year career hiatus on a relationship breakdown which left her at "rock bottom".

The star - who called off her engagement to actor Ryan Reynolds in 2007 - doesn't name the lover who broke her heart, but insists she had to step away from the spot light to recover.

Morissette released her last album, So-Called Chaos, in 2004 and has waited almost four years before debuting her new LP, which is due to hit shops later this year. And the star admits the break-up left her feeling so wounded, she had to take time off from her career.

She tells People.com, "I took a break over the past two and half years. I was tending to my personal life. (I hit) rock bottom. Everything from pounding pillows to sharing with intimate friends (helped me through it). The (new) record chronicles the rock bottom finally being hit."

Reynolds announced his engagement to 23-year-old actress Scarlett Johansson on Monday.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)