Quantcast
RELATED

When it comes to her flow and genre-defining hits, rapper Missy Elliott has established herself as a musical powerhouse. Still, behind the fame and legendary rap status, the Virginia native is opening up about the quiet struggles with her mental and physical health.


During an interview with Robin Roberts of Good Morning America, the 52-year-old femcee discussed her anxiety and revealed her 2008 diagnosis of Graves' disease.

Amid the discussion, the “Work It” performer spoke candidly about experiencing anxiety, particularly during a surprise appearance at Katy Perry's Super Bowl XLIX performance in 2016.

Missy Elliott talks historic induction to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Missy says that her “anxiety kicked in” after grasping the magnitude of the event, which ultimately landed her in the emergency room shortly before hitting the stage. “I didn’t know how humongous… how many people watched the Super Bowl, so when I did it, I ended up in the emergency room,” she told the news anchor.

Still, the recording artist is grateful for the current social climate that has allowed for more open conversations to take place around anxiety and depression. “It feels good to be at a time now where you can talk about it,” she says. “Because you realize, it’s a lot of people that suffer from anxiety.”

She went on to address her diagnosis of Graves' disease, an autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid, that she says "broke down my whole nervous system."

Missy recalls a vulnerable moment when her friend and R&B singer, Monica, came to her aid during a flare-up, assisting in her songwriting process. "I couldn't even hold a pencil," Missy shared. "She wrote the lyrics out for me… I felt helpless."

“It starts messing with you mentally… you have all those different side effects you have to deal with,” she added. “Life is never gonna be just full of roses… those tests become your testimony.”

At the 38th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Missy Elliott made history by becoming the first female rapper to receive the honor.

The Grammy-winning artist always knew she’d be a “superstar” and her advice to her younger self confirms it. "There is a bright future for you, and keep going,” she imparts. “That girl knew too, that she had something that was different and unique."

Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.

Featured image by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

 

RELATED

 
ALSO ON XONECOLE
Taurus-April-2025-monthly-horoscopes

May is about being patient, nurturing your dreams, and creating beauty in your world. This is a more stable and generous month than the chaos that April brought, and we get an opportunity for closure, healing, and rejuvenation this month. We are still amid some important retrograde transits, but these are ones we can navigate better by grounding our energy in the present moment, and not allowing ourselves to stress over the what-ifs.

With the Sun in Taurus for most of the month, May reminds us that there is beauty in finding your peace and not allowing anyone to disrupt that.

KEEP READINGShow less
African daughter hugging her mum indoors at home - Main focus on senior mother face

Astrology is gaining new popularity with many beginning to acknowledge what our ancestors have realized for civilizations - that astrology can reveal an awful lot about our lives, our personalities, and our psyches. Sure, we're all pretty familiar with the personality types of certain signs, but did you know that astrology can also reveal insights about your relationships with certain people? Specifically, your moon sign can shed a ton of light on your relationship with your mother, for better and for worse!


Are you and your mother thick as thieves, or is your relationship with her strained? Can you tell her your deepest and darkest secrets, or do you find it difficult to be yourself around your mother? Are you the apple of your mother's eye, or do you feel like you were never able to really please her?

KEEP READINGShow less
LATEST POSTS