Former Hear'Say star Danny Foster said he turned to drink after the failure of the group before he was saved by a Hare Krishna monk.
The singer, who returns to the spotlight tomorrow when he auditions on the BBC One show The Voice, said he now meditates every day.
He shot to fame along with the other members of the group - Myleene Klass, Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw and Noel Sullivan - when they won the TV talent show Popstars in 2001.
After the group folded, Danny also appeared on a succession of reality television shows including The Games, but said: "I didn't really know what I was doing, I was drinking a lot."
He said his life was turned round after he was warned he was in danger of becoming another casualty of the pop star lifestyle like his heroes Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.
Danny said: "A Hare Krishna monk said to me 'don't do it'."
The star, who now fronts a soul group, said he had no regrets about how life has turned out after Hear'Say and said he is not jealous of other members including Myleene and Kym who have had more high profile success.
He said: "I'm still singing and that's what I got into Popstars to do."
And he said the group would not be getting back together for the next series of ITV's The Big Reunion, saying it is "best left to nostalgia".