30 Musicians With Chronic Illnesses

Lots of people are living with one-or-more chronic illnesses. If you’re familiar with my story, you know I’m one of them. You might be, too. There are about 160 million people living with at least one chronic illness – and that’s just in the United States.¹

Over the twenty-five-or-so years since my Behcet’s disease diagnosis, I’ve made countless friends in not just the Behcet’s community, but the chronic illness community at large. And I’ve got to say, there’s no shortage of extremely talented and creative people in those communities.

Some of the best art, music, and literature created throughout history came from a place of prolonged suffering – the kind of suffering those of us with chronic illnesses are more than familiar with. I can’t tell you how many exceptional artists, writers, and musicians I’ve met who are living with one-or-more chronic conditions.

So, imagine my surprise when I went looking for songs about and musicians (both household names and up-and-comers) with chronic illnesses but found very few. That’s why I’ve decided to write up this article about recording artists and musicians with chronic illnesses. Some names you’ll likely recognize and others you probably won’t.
And since I couldn’t find a solid playlist of songs about chronic illness anywhere, I decided to make my own on Spotify. I’ve made it public so it can be enjoyed and shared by all. If you’re interested, you can listen to the playlist here: Songs About Chronic Illness. Feel free to add it to your library.

15 Musicians and Recording Artists With Chronic Illnesses

1. Lady Gaga

Even if you’re not familiar with her music, odds are you’ve at least heard of Lady Gaga. She rose to fame after her debut album, The Fame, came out in 2008. The album contained the chart-topping singles Poker Face and Just Dance. Other Lady Gaga hits include Alejandro, Bad Romance, and Telephone.

What you might not know about Lady Gaga is that, in 2017, she announced to the world she has fibromyalgia (aka fibro). Fibro is a fairly common chronic pain condition that affects about 10 million Americans. Symptoms include headaches, memory problems (aka brain fog or “fibro fog”), muscle/joint stiffness, bladder and bowel issues, sleep problems, tingling of extremities, restless leg syndrome, various sensitivities (temperature, light, heat, cold, etc.), and more.²

2. Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez is a triple threat if there ever was one. She has excelled at singing, acting, and performing. After rising to fame on the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place (2007-2012), Selena embarked on her musical journey. To date, she has released 3 albums with her former band (Selena Gomez and the Scene) and 3 solo albums. All of them have at least broken into the top 10 of the US Billboard 200 – several reaching #1.

Around 2013 – give or take a year – Selena was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or simply lupus for short). Symptoms of lupus include joint inflammation, fever, mouth ulcers, hair loss, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and more. Since the symptoms of lupus are so similar to the autoimmune disease I have, Behcet’s disease, the two are often misdiagnosed as the other.

In 2017, Selena Gomez underwent a kidney transplant related to her diagnosis.³ After developing lupus nephritis – severe lupus-related inflammation of the kidneys – a friend donated a kidney to her. Only 3% of people diagnosed with lupus ever need a transplant. Fortunately, Selena recovered from the surgery and has become an outspoken advocate for not only lupus, but several mental illnesses as well.

3. Nick Cannon

As it turns out, Selena Gomez isn’t the only triple threat with lupus. Rapper, comedian, and actor Nick Cannon was diagnosed with lupus in 2012 after experiencing acute renal (kidney) failure. Like Selena, he was diagnosed with lupus nephritis.⁴

Cannon is probably known best for his comedy and hosting shows like MTV’s Wild ‘n Out. However, he’s also released two studio albums as well as two mixtapes. His highest ranking single, Gigolo, reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Billboard Hot Rap chart.

4. Seal

Seal: not A seal!

While you might not be able to tell that Selena Gomez and Nick Cannon have lupus just by looking at them, you can literally see it in singer/songwriter Seal’s face. That’s because discoid lupus erythematosus – a type of lupus that affects the skin – left him with a large scar on his cheek in his early twenties.⁵

Seal is best known for his soulful voice and the 1994 hit Kiss from a Rose. He has sold over 20 million records worldwide and has received several awards including 4 Grammy Awards and a MTV Video Music Award.

5. Nick Jonas

In 2007, the Jonas Brothers – made up of Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas – launched into superstardom with the release of their self-titled album. But just two years earlier Nick, the youngest of the Jonas Brothers, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (aka T1D or juvenile diabetes) is a chronic illness where the immune system destroys cells that make insulin. As a result, people with T1D have to monitor their glucose levels and administer insulin as needed.

Since being diagnosed with T1D at the age of 13, Nick Jonas has managed his condition with an insulin pump. He’s become an outspoken advocate for young people with diabetes and has participated in a number of charities. Nick is also a co-founder of Beyond Type 1, a nonprofit to help people living with diabetes.⁶

6. Bret Michaels

Nick Jonas isn’t the only musician with type 1 diabetes. Another is Poison singer, Bret Michaels. He was only 6 years old when he got diagnosed. Like Nick, Bret has been an outspoken advocate for people with diabetes and has helped to raise tens-of-millions of dollars through his organization, the Life Rocks Foundation.⁷

Poison was formed in 1983 and went on to achieve massive commercial success, selling over 50 million albums worldwide. They’ve had a number of top 40 hits including Talk Dirty To Me, Nothing But A Good Time, and the #1 hit Every Rose Has Its Thorn. I’m not afraid to admit I had their first two albums on cassette and listened to them a million times – even though I was too young to really understand the innuendo behind much of their lyrics.

7. Patti LaBelle

As the name type one diabetes implies, there’s a type two. Type 2 diabetes (aka T2D or adult-onset diabetes) is a form of diabetes that often develops later in life and is strongly associated with obesity and lack of exercise. In 1995 after collapsing on stage, singer and actress Patti LaBelle was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.⁸

Patti is often referred to as the “Godmother of Soul.” Her career has spanned seven decades and she’s sold more than 50 million records worldwide. Patti LaBelle has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is in the Grammy Hall of Fame, and has earned more awards than I can count. And on top of all that, she’s an outspoken advocate for people with diabetes, especially minorities.

8. Dan Reynolds

The band Imagine Dragons rose to fame in 2012 after the release of their debut studio album, Night Visions. Just a few years earlier their lead singer, Dan Reynolds, was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects joints as well as the spine. It can be incredibly painful and affects between 0.1% and 0.8% of the population. AS is typically starts in young adulthood, just like it did for Dan Reynolds. He was in his early twenties when he got diagnosed.⁹

In spite of his illness, Reynolds has gone on to record several chart-topping albums with the Imagine Dragons. Their hits include the songs Radioactive, Demons, Thunder, and Whatever It Takes.

9. Masta Ace

If you asked a few popular rappers who their influences are, odds are you’d hear the name Masta Ace more than once. He’s had a prolific career as a rapper and producer spanning 4 decades. And in 2000, Masta Ace was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (aka MS or encephalomyelitis disseminata) is a chronic illness that causes the insulation surrounding nerve cells to become damaged. As the disease progresses, it can become incredibly painful and debilitating.

Masta Ace kept quiet about his diagnosis for years but finally opened up about it in 2013. He’s said that it has changed not only the way he views the world, but has also increased his musical creativity. The Fight Song is a particularly creative rap-battle-style song by Masta Ace about his struggle with MS.¹⁰

10. Missy Elliott

I still love the song Sock It 2 Me which came out in 1997 on Missy Elliott’s debut album Supa Dupa Fly. Since then the rapper, singer, and producer has gone on to release a number of ultra-catchy, chart-topping hits including Work It, Hot Boyz, WTF (Where They From), and Lose Control. She’s won four Grammy Awards and has sold over 30 million records in the United States.

In 2008, Missy Elliott was diagnosed with Graves’ disease (aka toxic diffuse goiter). This autoimmune disease affects the thyroid and is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Symptoms can include muscle weakness and tremors, eye problems, irregular heartbeat, sleep disturbances, weight loss, and more.¹¹

11. 8772

I’ll admit: I’d never heard of 8772 before I began my chronic-illness-music search. But after reading their story, I knew I had to include them on this list. 8772 is a Chinese rock band made up of eight musicians – all of which have some type of chronic illness.

Su Jiayu, the leader of the band, has Marfan syndrome (MFS). This rare genetic disorder affects connective tissue and can cause unusually long arms, legs, fingers, and toes, as well as scoliosis and joint problems. The two members who founded 8772 in 2015, Cui Ying and Wang Tiou, both have osteogenesis imperfecta (aka OI or brittle bone disease). The band’s guitarist, Cheng Liting, has polio.

The name 8772 is a numerical transposition of the Chinese phrase “bingtong tiaozhan” which translates to “challenging diseases” in English. While 8772 doesn’t have nearly as impressive of a resume as some musicians on this list, they’ve unquestionably earned their spot. In 2019, they released their debut album, Never Rare. And in 2021, 8772 played at an event for the 14^th International Rare Disease Day.¹²

12. Mike McCready

In 1991, Pearl Jam took the world by storm with their now-grunge-classic Ten. The album stayed on the Billboard 200 for nearly 5 years and remains one of the highest-selling rock records of all time. Some of their hits include Even Flow, Alive, Jeremy, Daughter, and Last Kiss – to name just a few.

In 1987 – 3 years before Pearl Jam was formed – their lead guitarist, Mike McCready, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 21. Crohn’s is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can cause severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and more.¹³

I have two close friend with Crohn’s disease and have seen how awful it can be. One of them is in his early 30s and has a colostomy bag. The other is in his early 40s and has had much of his intestines removed. Crohn’s can be incredibly painful and debilitating, but Mike McCready hasn’t let it slow him down.

In addition to being Pearl Jam’s lead guitarist, McCready has also played in a number of side projects including Temple of the Dog, Mad Season, The Rockfords, and Flight to Mars. And for several decades he’s been involved in raising awareness about Crohn’s disease as well as fundraising for several organizations.

13. Ali Hirsz

Here’s another one that I’d never heard of before doing research for this article. Ali Hirsz is a 22-year-old singer from England. She in the indie rock band Idealistics. And she is diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Ali has experienced discrimination due to her illness. Because she has a feeding tube, some promoters have rejected giving her band gigs in fear that the crowd will be turned off by it. But that hasn’t stopped Ali from standing up for herself and speaking out about her illness.¹⁴

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a connective-tissue disorder that can cause joint pain, loose joints, scarring, scoliosis, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, and more. Technically, EDS isn’t one disease – it’s a group of genetic diseases that affect connective tissue.

14. Halsey

This singer/songwriter rose to fame in 2014 by self-releasing music on then-still-fairly-new social-media platforms. Ashley Nicolette Frangipane – better known by her stage name Halsey – garnered enough interest to get signed by a major record label. Her debut album, Badlands, came out in 2015 and went on to get certified Double Platinum by the RIAA. Some of her hits include Gasoline, Colors, Now or Never, and Bad at Love.

Like Ali Hirsc, Halsey is diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – but that’s not all. She’s also been diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), bipolar disorder, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Some research shows that EDS, MCAS, and POTS are connected to one another.

In spite of her diagnoses, Halsey continues to write and record music. To date, she’s released four studio albums – three of which made it to #2 on the Billboard 200 and one, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, made it to #1. In addition to making music, Halsey is involved in various types of activism and has had several acting roles.

15. Ellis Michaels

I know you’ve heard of this guy. He hasn’t topped the Billboard 200 or won any Grammy Awards (yet), but he does make music and has been living with a chronic illness for most of his life – and happens to be the one who wrote this article.

I was diagnosed with Behcet’s disease in 1997 at the age of 16. Behcet’s is a rare form of vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation). Its symptoms include extremely painful oral and genital ulcers, severe eye problems, blood clots, a million different skin issues, fatigue, joint pain, and a lot more. If you’d like to hear my full story, I wrote a memoir about living with this illness called Finding Happiness Through Pain and Embarrassment: My Life With Behcet’s Disease.

Music has always been my #1 way to cope with having a chronic illness. I took classical piano lessons as a kid, then drums. From there, I taught myself to play guitar. In my early 20s, I toured the country playing guitar in a rock band. And now, twenty years later, I’ve started writing, recording, and releasing my own music.

To date, I’ve released two chronic-illness-related songs: Invisible Illness and Behcet’s Song (You’re Not Alone). I also released a Spanish version of Behcet’s Song, Canción de la enfermedad de Behcet (No estás solo). I’m sure I’ll write more in the future. Though my illness doesn’t define who I am, it is a part of who I am. Like everyone else on this list, I’m doing my best to take all the pain and suffering I’ve endured and channel it into my creative endeavors.

15 More Musicians With Chronic Illnesses

In my search for musicians with chronic illnesses, I came across about twice as many as I’ve already mentioned. Since I don’t want this article turning into book, I’m not going to go into the same level of detail that I have with the recording artists above. However, I will briefly mention the other names I came across in my research and what illnesses they’ve been diagnosed with. Additionally, as I’ve done above, I’ll include an footnote with a link for each artist in case you’d like to learn more about them and their illnesses.

16. Toni Braxton – systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)¹⁵

17. Demi Lovato – bipolar disorder (aka BD or manic-depression)¹⁶

18. Pink – asthma¹⁷

19. Fiona Apple – obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)¹⁸

20. George Ezra – obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)¹⁹

21. Chad King (singer for A Great Big World) – multiple sclerosis (MS)²⁰

22. Aaron Solowoniuk (drummer for Billy Talent) – multiple sclerosis (MS)²¹

23. Thom Sonny Green (drummer for Alt-J) – Alport syndrome²²

24. Chad Howat (bassist & pianist for Paper Route) – obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)²³

25. Trip Lee – chronic fatigue syndrome (aka myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME/CFS)²⁴

26. will.i.am (Black Eyed Peas) – attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)²⁵

27. Lil Wayne – epilepsy²⁶

28. Jeff Tweedy (singer for Wilco) – chronic migraine disorder²⁷

29. Leslie Mosier – endometriosis²⁸

30. Bono (singer for U2) – glaucoma²⁹

Conclusion

Thanks for reading! If you’re interested, make sure to add the Songs About Chronic Illness playlist to your library on Spotify. And if you haven’t already, please sign up for the EM newsletter below.

Did I miss a chronically ill musician you like on the list? Or are there any songs you’d like to see added to the Songs About Chronic Illness playlist that I might’ve missed? If so, please let me know in the comments section at the bottom.

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