By Selena Hill (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Oct 24, 2013 04:29 PM EDT

Although Kelly Rowland's father has not seen his daughter in decades, he recently said that he "prays" the singer will come back into his life.

Kelly's dad, Christopher Lovett, 67, recently spoke to Radar Online about the tumultuous relationship he had with Rowland's mother when the "Motivation" singer was a child.

"It wasn't physical between me and Kelly's mom, but there were many days and nights when Kelly would be bawling her eyes out, clutching my leg begging me, 'Please daddy stop shouting at mummy'. That image of her howling, begging me to stop will haunt me forever," he said.

Lovett admitted to being abusive and an alcoholic, which he says caused him to eventually leave Kelly and her mother, Doris Rowland Garrison, when Kelly was seven years old. However, he is now pleading to rekindle his relationship with his daughter.

"I just pray she comes back into my life before it's too late ... I couldn't control [the drinking and verbal abuse that Kelly witnessed]. I hoped I could make it up to her. But I'm still waiting for that day," he said.

This isn't the first time Lovett has tried to get in contact with the Destiny's Child singer. Rowland revealed to UK Cosmo in November 2011 that, "He reached out to me saying he wanted to see me, but it's unfortunate he did it so publicly. I want to meet him, and soon, I really do. I forgave him a long time ago. I haven't seen my dad for almost 20 years. It's nothing I want a pity party for. He left me and my mom, and I was angry. I wanted to be a daddy's girl so bad."

In the September 2013 edition of Essence magazine, Rowland said that she has agreed to meet with her estranged father, it's just a matter of time.

"I haven't [seen my father yet.] I don't know what's stopping me because I've had opportunities. But it really is time. I probably need to ask my therapist about it."

© 2015 Latinos Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.