Muni Long revealed Tuesday that she underwent a life-saving double lung transplant after medical professionals cautioned she had only one week to live.
The “Made For Me” singer shared the details of her harrowing health crisis during an emotional interview on “Good Morning America,” explaining that the procedure followed a period of declining health during her 2025 concert tour. Long, 37, told co-anchor Robin Roberts that her condition deteriorated rapidly while she was performing on “The Boy Is Mine” tour alongside Brandy and Monica.
The singer, who was diagnosed with lupus in 2014, said she initially contracted pneumonia while on the road. Despite her illness, she continued to perform until she became physically unable to sustain a full set, managed only two songs during her final tour appearance. “I knew for a really long time that something was wrong,” Long said during the interview.
She described a daily struggle where she was constantly coughing and “huffing and puffing” during public appearances and photo shoots. “I should have never taken that tour. But there was so much going on in my life where I had to do it,” she said. The situation reached a critical point when Long returned home for Thanksgiving and eventually woke up in a hospital bed. It was there that a medical team presented her with a stark ultimatum. Doctors informed her that without a double lung transplant, she had roughly seven days left to live, offering her the choice between the high-risk surgery or entering hospice care.
Long admitted that she initially hesitated to agree to the procedure due to concerns about her career and her singing voice. However, she said the thought of her young son, whom she shares with former husband Raysean Hairston, ultimately drove her decision. “I look at my son, and I think about how much more life that I have to live,” Long said. “Quality of life was first. I can’t sing if I’m not here.” Since undergoing the transplant approximately six months ago, the singer reported that she is doing “fabulous” and was recently declared asymptomatic with no signs of infection. In addition to the transplant, Long also required vocal surgery to address complications.
While she expressed optimism about her recovery, she said she is still waiting to see when she can return to the stage. “The Riches,” a new single released by Long, represents the last music she recorded before her health complications began. Though she noted that her voice sounds different—and perhaps even better—following her surgeries, she remains cautious about her return to live performance.
The singer has been vocal in the past about the challenges of the autoimmune disease, previously describing symptoms such as extreme pain and her fingertips turning blue. This latest update marks a significant milestone in her ongoing journey toward health and a potential return to her music career.
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