Singer Muni Long, 37, made a vibrant appearance at the 2026 BET Awards, showcasing her recovery six months after undergoing a double lung transplant. She walked the red carpet in a sequin-covered, sky-blue dress alongside Akeem Ali, sharing a positive update on her health.
"I'm feeling good, as long as I do everything I'm supposed to do," Long told The Hollywood Reporter. Her current health regimen includes consistently wearing a protective face mask and using hand sanitizer. "It's really how we should all be – but I'll be a lot more cognizant of my surroundings, and what I'm eating, and things like that. It's actually a much more healthy lifestyle," she explained.
Last week, Long appeared on Good Morning America to discuss the health issues that led to her transplant. She revealed that she was diagnosed with Lupus over a decade ago and developed pneumonia in November 2025, forcing her to withdraw from Brandy & Monica's The Boy Is Mine tour. Long described experiencing persistent symptoms, including constant coughing and difficulty breathing, which she attributed to her illness.
Around Thanksgiving 2025, Long was hospitalized and informed she required a double lung transplant. She recalled receiving a grave prognosis of one week to live without the procedure. "My jaw dropped," she said. "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.'"
Long, whose given name is Priscilla Renea Hamilton, cited her young son as a primary motivation for opting for the transplant, overcoming initial concerns about its potential impact on her singing voice. "The ego and the vanity was just like, 'But what about my voice? What's going to happen?' But then I look at my son, and I think about how much more life that I have to live. Quality of life was first. I can't sing if I'm not here."
Six months post-surgery, Long described her condition as "fabulous." She reported being asymptomatic and free of infections, with her final medical appointments scheduled soon. "Then I have my vocal checkup. Six months will be in August because I had to have vocal surgery as well," she added.
She had announced her departure from the tour on Instagram, citing doctors' advice that continuing was unsafe due to her health battles. She expressed gratitude to Brandy and Monica and anticipation for future performances. "I can't wait to see you all again. Stronger than ever."