LeAnn Rimes is keeping it real about her health journey.
“I am f***ing raw,” Rimes 43, wrote via a Substack post published on Tuesday, May 12. “My throat, my esophagus, my heart… hell, I even have a blister on my heel,” she continued. “Oh, and I’m on my period, too. When it rains, it pours.”
The country singer shared an update on her well-being and family turmoil after postponing multiple concerts due to vocal cord issues following a COVID-19 diagnosis.
She added, “I feel like life has stripped me down and stripped everything back for the moment. This whole illness has been incredibly humbling. One minute you’re moving through your routines, checking boxes, handling what’s next… and the next, your body simply says, ‘No more.’ No powering through… no performing…. no pretending you’re fine …. just rawness.”
Rimes went on to say that she’s “three days away” from another concert, but her voice is still healing. Her doctor advised her to take more time off, which made her anxious as she decided how to handle her tour schedule.
“For over 30 years, one of the toughest decisions and hardest inner battles I’ve faced every time I get sick and have shows scheduled is deciding whether to cancel/reschedule or perform, when I know good and well that performing while still half sick is not in my best interest in the long run,” Rimes explained. “For years, I’ve overridden my body and mind, performing at times when I knew I shouldn’t, out of fear of disappointing my fans, who mean so much to me.”
Now, Rimes prioritizes her health. “My health has to come first or I risk possible, real injury by singing on swollen and irritated tissue,” Rimes wrote, noting she’s taking it day by day.
The “Blue” singer went on to say that although she’s not feeling her best, she still has “solid” energy. “My brain feels clear, my body feels honest and all the emotions are present,” she continued. “There’s no numbing, no muting, no escaping… just me, sitting in the middle of all of it. And while that has felt wildly uncomfortable at times, it’s also felt strangely sacred.”
While opening up about her family turmoil, she added, “On top of it all, we have a parent in rehab after going through a stroke a few weeks ago.” While she didn’t share whose parent was seeking help, Rimes praised husband Eddie Cibrian for remaining strong, adding, “Watching someone you love carry so much while you’re barely able to carry yourself is its own kind of heartbreak.”
Rimes gushed about how “loved” she’s felt as of late, by those who have stood by and supported her. “In moments like this, when your body is screaming and your heart feels cracked wide open, I honestly think that kind of love is the most healing thing life can offer,” she wrote.
Rimes concluded her post by telling her fans she’s working on getting better. “If you were supposed to be at one of these shows over the past 3 weeks, please know that making the decision to reschedule was not easy for me,” she explained. “Every fiber of me wants to push through, show up and sing anyway. But at 43, I know that honoring my body instead of overriding it is the wiser choice… for my voice, my health and ultimately for all of you too.”
