Grammy-winning singer Muni Long is opening up about a life-threatening health battle that nearly ended her life and career.
During a recent appearance on Good Morning America, the 37-year-old artist revealed she underwent a double lung transplant after doctors informed her she had only one week to live without the procedure. The shocking disclosure comes months after Long abruptly exited Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine Tour” in late 2025 due to worsening health complications.
Long, who was diagnosed with lupus in 2014, said she struggled through much of the tour while battling serious respiratory issues. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organs and systems throughout the body. She said her condition worsened after she developed pneumonia while on the road.
“The road is tough, even when you are healthy,” Long said during the interview. “I should have never taken that tour. But there was so much going on in my life where I had to do it.”
She recalled becoming so ill that completing performances became increasingly difficult.
“I went back and I think, maybe five or six dates in, it was just like… I couldn’t even get out of the bed to make my call time for stage,” she said. “And the last show, I just barely made it. I was only able to do two songs.”
A Dire Diagnosis
After leaving the tour, Long returned home for Thanksgiving. What happened next changed her life.
“I came home for Thanksgiving and I woke up in the hospital,” she said.
Long admitted she had suspected for some time that something was seriously wrong. She described dealing with persistent coughing, breathing difficulties and fatigue while continuing to work in the public eye.
Doctors eventually delivered devastating news.
“My jaw dropped. Literally. I was like, ‘That’s rude,’” Long said. “But they were kind of like, ‘This is not a joke. You need to make a choice. You can either go to hospice or you can get these lungs.’”
According to medical experts, double lung transplants are typically reserved for patients with severe, life-threatening lung disease when other treatments are no longer effective. The procedure carries significant risks, including infection and organ rejection, but can dramatically improve quality of life for eligible patients.
Choosing Life Over Fear
Long said she initially hesitated because she feared the surgery could affect her voice. As a singer and songwriter, the possibility was difficult to accept.
“The ego and the vanity was just like, ‘But what about my voice? What’s going to happen?’” she said. “But then I look at my son, and I think about how much more life that I have to live. Quality of life was first. I can’t sing if I’m not here.”
The singer ultimately moved forward with the transplant and has spent the past six months recovering. She also underwent vocal surgery during her recovery process. Today, she says her health outlook is dramatically different.
“Tomorrow is my last appointment for all the things,” Long said. “No symptoms. Asymptomatic. No infections. None of that.”
Long recently released a new single, “The Riches,” which she recorded before her health crisis intensified. While she is still evaluating when she can return to performing, she remains optimistic about the future.
“My voice now is totally different,” she said. “It’s actually better, should I say? But I don’t know that I can perform yet.”