Muni Long, the Grammy Award-winning singer celebrated for hits like “Hrs & Hrs” and “Made For Me,” has shared a deeply personal struggle with her health. The acclaimed artist, who has also written global successes for other musicians, recently spoke about a pivotal moment on Good Morning America. She revealed that after departing Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine” tour prematurely, she underwent a double lung transplant.
In her conversation with co-anchor Robin Roberts, Long recounted the challenges she faced during the 2025 tour. “I should have never taken that tour. But there was so much going on in my life where I had to do it,” she admitted. Long, who was diagnosed with lupus in 2014, shed light on how these pressures affected her decisions.
Lupus, a chronic autoimmune condition, causes the body’s immune system to mistakenly target and harm its own healthy tissues and organs. This can lead to widespread inflammation, affecting the skin, joints, blood cells, and vital organs such as the kidneys, lungs, and heart, as noted by the NHS.
Doctors informed the U.S. singer that without surgery, she had only one week to live. Following her departure from the tour, Long returned home for Thanksgiving. It was soon thereafter that she found herself waking up in a hospital bed.
“I had known for a long time that something wasn’t right. I was constantly spitting into cups, coughing non-stop, and relying on medication to get through the day,” Long recalled. “In this industry, you’re always up close and personal with people. So, I’m taking pictures and totally out of breath, like I’ve just sprinted a marathon,” she explained.
Long then received the grim prognosis from a team of doctors, who told her she only had one week to live.
“My jaw dropped. Literally. I was like, ‘That’s rude.’ 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,’” she recalled.
The performer underwent the operation nearly six months ago and is now feeling better.
“Tomorrow is my last appointment for all the things,” Long said. “No symptoms. Asymptomatic. No infections. None of that. Then I have my vocal checkup, six months will be in August because I had to have vocal surgery, as well.”
Long released a new single called “The Riches,” which was the last music she recorded before her health complications. “My voice now is totally different. It’s actually better, should I say? But I don’t know that I can perform yet. They gave me six months to a year,” the singer confirmed.