How Country Singer Ashley Cooke Copes With Life-Threatening Diagnosis

Ashley Cooke gets by with a little help from her friends.

The country singer has experienced incredible success this year, especially after her song “your place” reached number one in June 2024. However, she and her family have also been navigating a difficult time, facing several challenging health diagnoses throughout the year.

In a recent interview with TopMob News, she shared that her father is battling cancer for the fifth time. She also revealed her mother recently had a heart attack, and both of her grandmothers have passed away. Additionally, her sister is dealing with thyroid issues that she’s been sharing publicly.

The 28-year-old has been dealing with a difficult time, both from a recent breakup and a new, literal weight on her heart.

Ashley explained she has Brugada syndrome, something that runs in her father’s family. She’s still learning about the condition and admits it’s challenging because there’s a lot that remains unknown about it.

Brugada syndrome is a rare, inherited heart condition that can cause a dangerously irregular heartbeat. This can prevent the heart from effectively pumping blood to the brain, potentially leading to sudden cardiac death, according to the Cleveland Clinic. While the exact cause isn’t known, it’s usually passed down through families.

You know, it’s funny how life works. Sometimes you feel perfectly fine, and then something happens that completely changes everything. That’s what it’s like with this condition – it can be silent and sudden. Sadly, I’ve seen it firsthand in my family. My dad’s side has experienced a number of unexpected cardiac events, where loved ones were simply gone without ever knowing they had a problem. It’s a stark reminder of how important it is to be aware of your health, even if you *feel* okay.

She explained the most frightening aspect was simply accepting it. ‘There’s nothing I can do to change it, so I’m just learning to live with it,’ she said. It doesn’t interfere with her daily routine, but she acknowledges it’s a condition that could eventually be life-threatening.

Ashley understands that facing her diagnosis so directly might seem strange or unsettling, but she’s actually feeling positive. She’s hopeful for a long, happy, and healthy future, and is currently enjoying a strong sense of contentment and purpose.

After finishing a tour with Parker McCollum, she launched her own What You Know About That Tour last month, opening for Lee Brice. Over the past year, she’s also shared the stage with artists like Joe Jonas, Ne-Yo, and Jelly Roll, and released her new songs “swear words” and “tin foil hat.”

Even with beautiful scenery around her, Ashley is still dealing with life’s challenges. Who is there for her to lean on?

I usually rely on my family for support – they’re who I turn to when I need to talk or just lean on, and that hasn’t changed. But it’s hard when the roles are reversed and *they* need my help instead.

Before her relationship ended last year, she always turned to her partner for support. Now, she’s found other ways to cope and feels more self-sufficient.

While touring with Kane Brown this past spring as an opening act, Ashley quickly bonded with Mitchell Tenpenny and the rest of the crew, forming a close, family-like connection with them.

She said she relied heavily on her friends during that difficult time. She specifically remembered talking with Mitchell Tenpenny, who had experienced the loss of his father to cancer, about her own father’s illness and her grandmother’s passing. He was a huge support, and they had really meaningful conversations.

She explained that when your closest friendships change, it’s like a reminder that you have other amazing people in your life. It’s as if a higher power is showing you those people are there to support you when you need it.

Ashley admitted she struggles to open up to her coworkers, but sharing her feelings with them felt surprisingly heartfelt, like something out of a country song.

She realized that despite working with people professionally, everyone is fundamentally the same. It’s through shared difficulties and life experiences that you truly connect with others, so she encourages being open and letting people see the real you.

She also connected with Luke Bryan during their 2023 tour, and he shared some helpful advice and guidance.

She explained that many artists fall into the trap of performing the same show night after night, focusing so much on their planned setlist that they stop really connecting with the audience. She believes that live music is special because it’s about genuine interaction, not just playing a recording.

Ashley said the *American Idol* judge told her to be ready to perform any song and to enjoy herself.

She explained that if someone in the audience is sharing a personal loss, like the death of a father to cancer, Luke Bryan should play a more sensitive song like ‘Drink a Beer’ instead of a high-energy one like ‘Country Girl.’ She believes this connection with the audience is why Luke has won Entertainer of the Year repeatedly – people feel like their energy and stories directly impact the show, making it a must-see event.

Ashley took Luke’s advice and now writes her setlists in pencil instead of pen, allowing for easier changes.

Read on for more stars who have been open about their health scares. 

Nikki Bella, known from *Total Bellas*, shared that one of her breast implants moved after being hit during an elbow slam by wrestler Piper Niven in a match that took place in July 2025.

I remember when she told Bella Garcia that everything would be alright. She was so determined! She explained to the doctor that as soon as her dancing days were over – after she retired her boots – she’d come back and they’d get everything looking fantastic. She was already planning for the future and making sure things were perfect, because she knew these performances were going to be amazing and she didn’t want anything to hold them back.

Lupita Nyong’o, known for her role in *12 Years a Slave*, received a diagnosis of uterine fibroids—non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus—in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for her performance in the film.

She didn’t share her diagnosis until 2025, when she revealed on Instagram that she had been privately struggling with it for over ten years.

She explained that many girls are taught to accept period pain as a normal part of being a woman. This often leaves them dealing with a common issue privately and without support.

 

In July 2025, the actress from *Daisy Jones & The Six* revealed she was hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she had been wearing pants that were too tight, causing a gap to form in her abdominal muscles.

Someone messaged Suki on X (formerly Twitter), asking why she hadn’t posted recently. The message jokingly explained the silence by saying she’d been secretly dealing with a hernia caused by wearing very tight pants six months prior and was afraid to mention it.

The former star of *Beverly Hills, 90210* shared in April 2025 that he was recovering from surgery for a nearly ruptured appendix.

Brian shared in an Instagram video that he recently experienced stomach pain which led him to the emergency room. He explained he had a perforated appendix – it hadn’t fully burst, but was very close to it.

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

During a soccer game against the Seattle Reign on September 14th at Lumen Field in Seattle, a midfielder for Racing Louisville collapsed after only a few minutes of play.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player sat down on the field with a teammate supporting her, and then quickly collapsed. Trainers were called to assess her condition.

Savannah received immediate medical attention on the field and was taken to a nearby hospital for more tests, according to a statement from the National Women’s Soccer League. They reported that she is currently in stable condition and is alert.

Adam Devine revealed that injuries from being hit by a cement truck at age 11 continue to cause him problems even now.

“It’s been awful,” Devine shared on the 2025 episode of the *In Depth With Graham Bensinger* podcast. “I experience muscle spasms all over my body, and doctors recently told me I was nearing the end of my life—within the past year, actually.”

He explained that his pain is intermittent, saying his body has some minor imperfections and isn’t quite working as it should.

A former contestant on The Bachelor went to the hospital because of severe back pain. He said he was in so much pain he had to crawl on his hands and knees, and the pain got worse during a road trip with a friend.

He described a lingering tingling sensation in his knees and toes during a March 2025 episode of his podcast, *Trading Secrets*. He explained that just a few weeks or a month prior, he was able to squat 295 pounds, but now he can’t even do a squat or stand on one foot without falling. He compared the feeling to having had a stroke.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

Gina Kirschenheiter from *The Real Housewives of Orange County* revealed that her ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, had a heart attack in March 2025, but he is recovering well.

In March 2025, the actor known for 30 Rock experienced a medical issue at a New York Knicks game and had to be taken out of Madison Square Garden in a wheelchair.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain that he hadn’t been feeling well due to food poisoning, but was starting to recover.

In February 2025, the former *Even Stevens* star revealed she was shot in the face during a birthday outing with her husband, Brendan Rooney. They were on a trip to go clay pigeon shooting when the incident occurred.

I was injured when someone at a party accidentally fired a gun in the wrong direction, and a bullet hit my face,” she explained in an Instagram post. “Brendan Rooney quickly helped me, checked my injuries, and drove me to the hospital. I was hit five times, and one bullet narrowly missed my right eye, coming within less than an inch of hitting it directly.

The former *Kim Possible* star explained that a small piece of something is stuck behind their eye. Doctors have advised against removing it with surgery right now, and they’ll continue to monitor the situation, as their vision is currently normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving a frightening experience. She shared how much she cherishes her daughters, husband, family, and friends, explaining that she realized how precious life is. She urged everyone to hug their loved ones often, because things can change unexpectedly and quickly.

Amy Schumer is grateful for the internet, despite its often negative side, because it helped her discover a health issue. After noticing she looked “puffier” and receiving critical comments online, doctors began commenting on interviews, suggesting she might have Cushing syndrome, a condition often linked to high cortisol levels or steroid injections. This prompted Amy to realize she’d been receiving steroid injections after a breast reduction and C-section. She later learned she had a form of Cushing syndrome that would resolve on its own, which she considers fantastic news. In a newsletter, Amy expressed her relief at being healthy and discovering the condition would correct itself.

In December 2024, an AHL player suffered a skate cut during a game and needed 25 stitches to close the wound. After his son made a full recovery, New Jersey Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald told ESPN, “We feel very fortunate, and I wouldn’t want any parent to go through that.”

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber. She suddenly developed stroke-like symptoms, initially unable to respond when Justin asked if she was okay. She then realized she couldn’t speak and the right side of her face began to droop.

Although her speech and facial movement eventually returned, Hailey went to the hospital where doctors discovered she had a small blood clot in her brain, which they identified as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack).

Further testing at UCLA revealed Hailey had a hole in her heart called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Doctors determined the blood clot had traveled to her brain through this hole, causing the TIA. Hailey successfully underwent a procedure to close the PFO and is now doing well.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face. This forced him to cancel the rest of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained the condition affected the nerves in his ear and face, preventing him from blinking, smiling, or moving his nostril on the affected side. He also shared that it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to eat.

Fortunately, the paralysis eventually went away. Hailey later appeared on *Good Morning America* and said Justin was recovering well, adding that while the situation was frightening and unexpected, he was going to be okay and she was thankful he was fine.

Jamie Foxx recently shared details about the health scare he experienced in April 2023, which he had initially kept private. In his 2024 Netflix special, *What Had Happened Was…*, he explained that he suffered a severe headache one day while in Atlanta. Before he could take aspirin, he lost consciousness and doesn’t remember the next 20 days.

Initially, a doctor gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home, but his sister, Deidra Dixon, became worried and took him to the hospital. There, doctors discovered he had a brain bleed that resulted in a stroke.

After surgery, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair on May 4th, unable to walk. He then traveled to Chicago for rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed deep gratitude for the prayers he received, saying, “I needed every prayer.”

Let me tell you, filming this competition show was intense! During the very first challenge – a one-mile run – I actually collapsed. It felt like I completely shut down for a moment, like I ‘died’ right there on the course. It was definitely a scary experience!

She shared on the show *Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser* that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling like she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather before everything went dark. Afterwards, she saw light, which led her to realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where the body essentially begins to shut down.

Emilia Clarke, known for her role in *Game of Thrones*, revealed a harrowing health battle in a 2019 essay for *The New Yorker*. While filming the series, she experienced a severe headache while at the gym, which quickly escalated. She described feeling violently ill and experiencing intense, stabbing pain, realizing something was seriously wrong with her brain.

A hospital scan revealed she had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a life-threatening stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm. She underwent immediate surgery to repair the aneurysm, but the pain was excruciating. During her recovery, she struggled with aphasia, finding herself unable to speak coherently.

Though the aphasia eventually passed and she was discharged after a month, a 2013 scan revealed the aneurysm had grown and required a second surgery. This surgery was unsuccessful, leading to a major bleed and a life-threatening situation. Doctors had to perform a more invasive procedure, accessing her brain directly through her skull.

Fortunately, Emilia Clarke now says she has made a full recovery and is at 100%.

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, recently shared how much she appreciates her family’s support after a health scare. In January 2024, Cori suffered a stroke and immediately reached out to her loved ones, sending a text and a picture to let them know what happened. She told TopMob News that everyone quickly came to her aid.

Cori ended up staying in the hospital longer than expected due to other health issues. In addition to recovering from the stroke, she was also dealing with lupus and kidney problems.

Thankfully, Cori is now recovering well. She says she’s feeling great and has been working to regain some motor skills, but is otherwise doing fine.

Shailene Woodley struggled with significant health issues throughout her early twenties. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she described a time when she was losing her hearing, unable to walk for more than five minutes without needing to rest for hours, and experiencing stomach pain with everything she ate. She faced conflicting diagnoses from various doctors. Determined to find answers, Woodley, who comes from a holistic background and studies herbalism, sought help from both traditional doctors and alternative healers. This search for well-being lasted for ten years. The physical discomfort led to deeper issues, including fear of food and struggles with body image, identity, and feeling comfortable in her own body. Thankfully, after focusing on both her physical and mental health, Woodley has fully recovered and is now very healthy and happy.

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2025-10-18 16:19