Linda Perry Credits Her 9-Year-Old Child Rhodes with Saving Her Life: 'Blessing in so Many Ways' (Exclusive)

The musician spoke to PEOPLE about her tight-knit relationship with her child Rhodes ahead of the premiere of her new documentary

Linda Perry is opening up about how her child Rhodes changed her life for the better.

Ahead of the release of her documentary film Linda Perry: Let It Die Here, the musician, 59, spoke with PEOPLE for this week's issue, sharing that Rhodes is a part of everything she does. Don Hardy's film on Perry features interviews from Dolly Parton, Christina Aguilera, Kate Hudson and Brandi Carlile, as well Perry's ex-wife, actress Sara Gilbert, with whom she shares her 9-year-old child.

“If it were up to me, the whole documentary would be about Rhodes because I think what an incredibly fascinating character Rhodes is, and I don't want people to think that, oh, it was a one-time thing that particular day,” Perry explains to PEOPLE of a scene in the film in which Rhodes joins her at work. “Rhodes comes to the studio all the time and is a part of everything that I do.”

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Related: Linda Perry Reveals She's Only Watched Linda Perry: Let It Die Here Documentary Once (Exclusive)

The songwriter notes that the two have a very open and honest relationship, and spending time in the studio together has only strengthened their bond.

“It's extremely important that my child understands where I come from and who I am and how much work it takes to be an actual healthy human being in this world,” she explains. “And so I'm always teaching and hoping they thrive in life, but it's important to know, ‘Oh, this is where I came from.’ So we have a lot of really awesome talks that I'm so proud of that I can be that type of parent.”

Despite their tight-knit relationship, Perry did not initially want a child. In fact, she says, “When Sara was like, ‘I think we should have a baby.’ I was like, ‘No f—ing way, dude.’”

Perry continues to explain that her own upbringing and difficult mother-daughter relationship is what initially deterred her from the idea of being a mom. “If 1% of my mom was in me, 'It's not even worth the risk,’ I told her.”

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Gilbert was eventually able to convince Perry that mom-life was for her, and now the mom of one says she's grateful she made that choice.

“So I'm an awesome mom, and I am really, like, Rhodes has saved my life," she says. "This child is a blessing in so many ways and continues to be stronger than I'll ever be.”

For more on Linda Perry, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.

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