Selena Gomez Will 'Always Be Close to My Heart,' Demi Lovato Says

They grew up together on the small screen and collaborated on music and TV movies and, in the process, became best friends.

Since meeting back in 2002 on the set of "Barney & Friends," Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez have managed the impossible: maintaining their lifelong bond in the public spotlight. Yet, like with any friendship, they have endured some hardships over the years and at times stopped communicating, which Lovato opened up about during her "Live from MTV" special Tuesday.

"We've been through a lot together, we've had periods of times we here we grew apart and we just didn't really talk," Lovato said, possibly referring to the time in 2010 when she opened up to Girls Life magazine alluding to the fact they were no longer friends due to a trust issue.

However, the former Disney starlets have put the past in the past and are back on track. "Now we are in a place where I think we realized that life is so short and that when you have people in your life that love you so much then, you should just always be around them," Lovato said. "She's going to be a big sister, and I want to be around for that. Everything about her, she has a great soul, she's talented, she's beautiful, and she will always be really, really close to my heart."

Why Did Demi Go Blonde?

Lovato said the two don't talk every day, but that "doesn't invalidate" their friendship at all, being that they are each other's biggest supporters.

During "MTV First: Selena Gomez," the "Come & Get It" singer said she "loves" Lovato's new single "Heart Attack" and revealed what she admires most about her friend. "The one thing I appreciate about Demi is that she has her own individual style, and that's something she's wanted to remain no matter where she is, and I definitely love that and admire that about her."

The feeling is mutual: Lovato praised the new direction Gomez is going with her music. "I love her single 'Come & Get It,' " Lovato said. "I went on vacation in Barbados, and that's all I listened to, and that's all me and my other friends blared, and when it comes on the radio, I turn it up really loud and tell everyone to shut up unless they are singing it, but it's so awesome to see her come so far."