Demi Lovato: 'I'm handling it OK' Demi Lovato said she's "handling it OK" in the days after the death of her father. Singer-songwriter Demi Lovato. File/UPI/Kevin Dietsch. Demi Lovato opened up Thursday for the first time about the death of her biological father, from whom she was estranged, who died Sunday. "I'm handling it OK," she said. My father and I didn't have the most ideal relationship but at the end of the day he's still my dad. Patrick Lovato, 54, passed away in part due to untreated mental health and addiction issues. "I grew up with him and he's a wonderful person, but I'm handling it OK," she said "My father dealt with mental illnesses and he wasn't able to function in society and that happens to a lot of people." But even though she wasn't close to her father, his death has still been hard. "It's been a really rough week, but I've had incredible support from [my fans] and they can help me get through anything," she said. The singer launched the Lovato Treatment Scholarship Program in honor of her late father, which will cover the expenses for treatment at a CAST Recovery transitional living home.