By Katherine Tinsley
4:04am PDT, Aug 9, 2025
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Celebrities often seem invincible, but despite their fame and wealth, many go through the same health battles that impact millions of other people. We're looking back at all the stars who suffered major health setbacks this year, starting with this pop star…
Jessie J took to Instagram on June 3 to announce that she'd been diagnosed with early breast cancer sometime before her single "No Secrets" debuted in April: "I'm highlighting the word 'early.' Cancer sucks in any form, but I'm holding on to the word 'early,'" she said, adding that she was "not processing" her diagnosis because she'd been "working so hard" lately. She went on to say that she'd undergo surgery following her performance at Summertime Ball in London in mid-June. She then planned to "disappear for a bit" while healing. "I will come back with massive t*** and more music," she joked after calling breast cancer "a very dramatic way to get a b*** job." She underwent surgery later in the month. But she wasn't out of the woods just yet… On August 4 — six weeks post-op — the Grammy nominee returned to Instagram to announce that she'd been hospitalized with complications. Tests revealed she had an infection and some fluid in her lungs — but not a blood clot, as initially suspected. "Finding it hard to breathe in, but I discharged myself last night (I hate being in hospital) and will continue the investigation as an outpatient," she said while recovering in bed at home, adding that she was "feeling better." A few days later, she shared that she needs another surgery later this year. "I am 7 weeks post breast cancer surgery. I'm still in the thick of recovery and my body is still finding its way," she captioned
a video of herself.
Keep reading for more stars facing health crises this year… MORE:
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Christina Applegate revealed on the August 5 episode of her "MeSsy" podcast with Jamie-Lynn Sigler that she'd been hospitalized with a kidney infection. The Married… with Children alum — who announced in 2021 that she has multiple sclerosis — started feeling unwell during a trip to Europe, she said, adding that she decided to go straight to the hospital after her flight home to Los Angeles. The pain eventually got so bad, she thought her appendix was bursting. "So much pain. I'm screaming, and they ordered me an emergency CT at 2 in the morning," she recalled, noting that the infection spread to both kidneys and that she was placed on intravenous antibiotics as part of her treatment. "I'm holding in a bag o' tears right now," said the Emmy winner. "I sometimes fall into the nurse's arms like a freako, just like crying." She later confirmed that she was healing at home after spending seven days in the hospital.
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Justin Timberlake has been diagnosed with Lyme disease. "As many of you know, I'm a pretty private person. But as I'm reflecting on the tour and festival tour — I want to tell you a little bit about what's going on with me," the singer wrote
on Instagram on July 31, 2025. "Among other things, I've been battling some health issues and was diagnosed with Lyme disease -— which I don't say so you feel bad for me –– but to shed some light on what I've been up against behind the scenes. If you've experienced this disease or know someone who has — then you're aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically. When I first got the diagnosis, I was shocked for sure. But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness. I was faced with a personal decision. Stop touring? Or, keep going and figure it out. I decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I'm so glad I kept going."
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Suki Waterhouse landed in the hospital for a wild reason… her wardrobe! The singer-actress took to social media on July 14 to reveal why she'd been missing from the public for a while at the time. "'Suki, you never tweet anymore,'" the vocalist, 33, captioned a photo of herself in a hospital bed. "Have you ever considered I wore pants so tight six months ago it caused a hernia and I've been too scared to tell you?"
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David Beckham is on the mend after undergoing surgery to repair issues related to an injury he suffered more than two decades ago. (He broke his wrist playing soccer back in 2003.) On June 27, his wife,
Victoria Beckham, took to her Instagram Story to share a photo of the former professional athlete recovering in a hospital bed with his arm in a sling. "Get well soon, Daddy," she captioned the snap. The fashion designer shared a second photo of her husband's tattooed hand holding a bracelet reading "get well soon" while relaxing a bed seemingly outside the hospital.
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In April,
Eric Dane revealed
his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis: "I have been diagnosed with ALS," he said. "I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter. I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of
Euphoria next week."
In mid-June, the
Grey's Anatomy alum revealed that he was already
experiencing debilitating symptoms: "My left side is functioning. My right side has completely stopped working," he said after noting that he had only "one functioning arm." Added the right-handed actor, "I feel like maybe a couple more months and I won't have my left hand either. It's sobering."
He also shared that one of his two daughters had recently saved his life when he jumped into a body of water and realized he didn't have the strength to swim: "She dragged me back to the boat," Dane recalled, adding that the experience left him "heartbroken" and in tears.
He went on to reveal the circumstance that led to his diagnosis: "I didn't really think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I'd been texting too much or my hand was fatigued," he recalled. "But a few weeks later, I noticed it had gotten a little worse." After nine months of testing — he saw a series of doctors including hand specialists and neurologists — he finally received his diagnosis. "I'll never forget those three letters," he said.
Dane admitted that he's "angry" because he lost his father when he was very young, and now there's "a very good chance" that he'll be taken from his own children "while they're very young."
"At the end of the day, all I want to do is spend time with my family and work a little bit if I can," he said. "I don't think this is the end of my story. I just don't feel like, in my heart, I don't feel like this is the end of me."
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Billy Joel announced on Friday, May 23, that he was cancelling his tour following his diagnosis with normal pressure hydrocephalus. In an Instagram post, the "Piano Man" chart-topper revealed that performing had negatively impacted his "hearing, vision and balance."
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a condition characterized by an abnormal buildup of fluid in the skull that ultimately presses against the brain. The condition is often treatable and can even be reversed.
Joel shared that he's "undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period." His team added that he's "fully committed to prioritizing his health" and looking forward to "the day when he can once again take the stage."
It wasn't the first time Joel was forced to step back from touring due to his health: He was forced to cancel his final show at Madison Square Garden in 2022 after he contracted a viral infection.
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On Sunday, May 18 — after much speculation about his health — Joe Biden and his team announced his current battle with prostate cancer.
"Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone," the statement from the Democrat's camp read.
Alongside a shot of himself and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, the politician wrote on Instagram, "Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support."
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Bindi Irwin was hospitalized after her appendix ruptured in mid-May. On May 12, she took to Instagram to share
a video of herself recovering in a hospital bed an hour after she had her appendix removed. She also had 14 new endometriosis lesions removed and had a hernia surgically repaired, she revealed.
"I'm sorry if I'm a little out of it in this video. I just wanted you to know that I'm on the road to recovery, one step at a time," she said. In the caption, she added that she "finally had to seek help" after "many months of a grumbly appendix."
The conservationist and zookeeper, who won Season 21 of
Dancing With the Stars in 2015, first opened up about her endometriosis diagnosis in 2023 when she had 37 lesions and a cyst removed. She acquired the hernia when she welcomed her daughter in 2021.
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The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Teddi Mellencamp was diagnosed with stage 2 Melanoma in late 2022. In February 2025 — after undergoing several surgeries to remove her melanoma spots in the three previous years — she was hospitalized and diagnosed with multiple brain tumors. She underwent successful surgery to remove the tumors — a "direct result" of her skin cancer — but revealed the following month that doctors had discovered more tumors in her lungs. In April, she announced that her cancer had reached stage 4: "I'm fighting for my life," she said at the time. Later that month, she had good news to share: Her treatment plan was working. "My tumors have significantly shrunk," she said.
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Lil Nas X is often turning heads for his controversial music videos, but in mid-April, the "Old Town Road" singer posted a video sharing that he'd been hospitalized for partial facial paralysis, sparking concerns he might have Bell's palsy. While he hasn't shared his diagnosis, he did note the following day that he was already on the upswing: "I've been chewing a lot so I can get this muscle stronger," he said on his Instagram Story on April 15, adding that he was "much better." Noted the Grammy winner, "My eye still has to play catch-up, but I can give a genuine smile, so that's good. I'm still winking [at worthy gentlemen]."
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Shakira was hospitalized in Lima, Peru, in February after she experienced abdominal pains. In an X post, the singer revealed she was forced to cancel one of her concerts due to her unspecified condition. But she made a speedy recovery: She was back on the stage for the next scheduled show.
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Carlos Santana was rushed to the hospital before he was scheduled to perform two concerts in San Antonio, Texas, in late April. The shows were postponed after the guitarist was treated for dehydration and tested positive for COVID. "Mr. Santana was at the venue preparing for tonight's show when he experienced an event that was determined to be dehydration," his rep said.
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Full House star Dave Coulier revealed in November 2024 that he'd been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Just a few months later, in March 2025, he shared the happy news that he was cancer-free. "I'd like to give a heartfelt thank you to family, friends and fans for their continued prayers, love and support throughout my emotional roller coaster ride through cancer," he said in a statement. "I will continue to encourage others to check in with doctors to get early screenings like breast exams, colonoscopies and prostate exams."
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Michael Bolton, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in December 2023, opened up about his health battle for the first time in an April interview with
People magazine — not long after an MRI showed that he was tumor-free following radiation, chemotherapy treatments and two brain surgeries. He'll now undergo an MRI every two months to monitor his glioblastoma, which has a recurrence rate of about 90 percent. Said the chart-topper, who declined a prognosis, "Succumbing to the challenge is not an option. You're really quickly drawn into a duel. I guess that's the way you find out what you're made of." According to
People, his short-term memory, speech and mobility have all been impacted by his cancer battle.
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In late 2024,
James Van Der Beek announced that he'd been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. In a March Instagram post, the former teen heartthrob shared how the diagnosis was impacting his life: "It has been the hardest year of my life," the
Dawson's Creek alum shared. "I could no longer be a husband who was helpful to my wife. I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them. I could not be a provider because I wasn't working. I couldn't even be a steward of the land because at times I was too weak to prune all the trees during the window that you're supposed to prune them."
