Sheryl Crow only caught "bits and pieces" of Lance Armstrong's shocking doping confession during last week's revealing interview with Oprah Winfrey, but says she saw enough to form an opinion about her former flame's illegal activities.

"I think that honesty is always the best bet and that the truth will set you free," Crow says of Armstrong's recent doping confession (quote via Entertainment Tonight). "To carry around a weight like that would be devastating in the long run."

Armstrong has long vehemently denied any guilt in the matter, but finally confessed to Oprah Winfrey during a series of rapid-fire questions during an exclusive interview. The retired cyclist confirmed to the media mogul that he had blood transfusions and used the banned substance erythropoietin (EPO) during his career -- most notably during his seven unprecedented Tour de France wins.

He became an awarding-winning cyclist in 1992, but it wasn't until his 1996 diagnosis with metastasized testicular cancer -- and subsequent chemotherapy treatment -- did Armstrong receive worldwide notoriety as a beacon of survival and hope. The cyclist staged a massive comeback in the years following, winning seven Tour de France tours from 1999-2005.

In June 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Association (USADA) accused Armstrong of illegal doping and trafficking of drugs, based on blood samples and firsthand accounts from witnesses, including former teammates. Armstrong denied all charges, but was ultimately stripped of his honors dating back to 1998.

The USADA firmly issued a lifetime ban on Armstrong from any activity or competition for which it has any jurisdiction.

Crow and Armstrong began dating in 2003 at the height of the cyclist's career. The two stayed together until 2006. Shortly after their split, Crow was diagnosed with breast cancer, but responded well to treatment. Crow has since adopted two sons -- Wyatt Steven Crow and Levi James Crow -- and currently resides on a farm just outside of Nashville, Tenn.

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