In a new interview, Lea opened up about the loss of her costar and boyfriend Cory, revealing that she’s actually paying tribute to him in a new song that will be on her upcoming solo album.

Lea Michele continues to shock us with her strength after tragically losing Cory Monteith, and just as the Glee cast did, she is remembering him through song — and the title represents his last words to her.

Lea Michele Recorded Song About Cory Monteith

In Elle‘s December issue, Lea looked better than ever — but we know that the actress, 27, is still deeply saddened after the tragic death of her late boyfriend, who passed away on July 13 due to a toxic combination of heroin and alcohol.

While she revealed that she leaned on Kate Hudson for support during the tough time, she also headed back into the studio to finish her first solo album. She began working on it in October 2012, but after Cory’s death, she decided she would push back the release date — to add a song for him.

“The album was done, and the label said, ‘Do you want to add anything?” she told Elle magazine. While she went back and forth with the decision, she ultimately decided she wanted to have a song for Cory. “I was like, ‘I might regret it if I don’t.'”

Lea Michele: ‘I Need To Remember That You Have To Live’ The song she reportedly recorded for him is called, “If You Say So” — the final words Cory ever said to her. To record it, she reached out to Australian songwriter Sia, who co-wrote David Guetta‘s “Titanium.” She ended up co-writing “If You Say So” with Lea.

“I said [to Sia], ‘I feel like I’m starting to just sink in it, and he would never want me to do that,” she told the mag. “I need to remember that you have to live, because you can want to die.'” She also insided to include a track called, “You’re Mine,” which she said makes her “think so much of Cory.” “It was ours,” she said of the song. “When I think of him, I play this.”

In addition to the song, she also got the words “If You Say So” tattooed on her rib cage, which she revealed at the Elle Women in Hollywood Awards on Oct. 21. Her Calvin Klein cutout dress displayed the tattoo for the first time.

We’ve got to say — Lea is one of the strongest women ever.

— Emily Longeretta

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