Country music star Lindsay Ell opens up about being the victim of rape, twice -- the first time at just 13 years-old, in a powerful new song and video released today.

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The song, titled "make you" was released along with a simply shot video; Ell looks directly to the camera most of the time, and her vulnerability is palpable.

She revealed to People magazine the song is about the first time she was raped as a young girl. But that's not her entire story -- Ell was raped a second time at age 21.

According to the National Violence Resource Center, more than one-third of women who report being raped before age 18 also experience rape as an adult. Additionally, one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years-old.

 

She released the song today, July 7 for a reason. It's Global Forgiveness Day.

The singer told People magazine:

"I wanted to release it on Global Forgiveness Day. Forgiving people in our past is a huge thing for whatever reason, but forgiving yourself is so important. There's an incredible amount of healing that can happen, and it can't happen until you can truly open up that forgiveness for your own heart."

The lyrics of "make you" speak to her process of pain and recovery:

"You'll feel angry, you'll feel sad once you see it's not your fault
And that canyon in your chest is that little girl you lost

And it's amazing where a broken heart can take you
All the things that bend and stain and break you
That's what's gonna make you
But that's what's gonna make you"

 

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