R&B artist Nivea, known for hits like "Don't Mess With My Man" and "Laundromat," announced at age 44 that she has been diagnosed with leukemia and is currently undergoing treatment. The singer shared the news during a recent episode of The Cadillac Chronicles, expressing gratitude for her health and for life itself.
"I was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year," Nivea stated. "I'm so grateful to God. [I've] been going through treatment and everything is going great so far, and I expect it to continue. Amen, amen, amen!"
Leukemia is a cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including bone marrow and the lymphatic system. According to the Mayo Clinic, various types of leukemia exist, with some forms more common in children and others primarily affecting adults. The condition typically involves white blood cells, which are crucial for fighting infection. In individuals with leukemia, abnormal white blood cells are produced in excess, impairing their function.
Despite the diagnosis, Nivea described the illness as a catalyst for pursuing opportunities she had previously set aside. She indicated a return to music and enrollment in school for audio engineering, particularly mixing.
"It just helped me put a lot of things in perspective," she said. "I live in gratitude like religiously, and I'm just grateful for everything, like I'm doing things I wanna do, I'm definitely back into my music, and I'm going to school for audio engineering."
Nivea, who rose to prominence in the early 2000s with her debut album, has not allowed the diagnosis to slow her down. She has continued performing, with multiple shows nationwide over the summer. Her most recent album, "Mirrors," was released in 2019. She is a mother of four: twin sons London Nash and Christian Nash, and daughter Navy Talia Nash, with ex-husband The-Dream, and son Neal Carter with ex Lil Wayne.
In 2023, Nivea shared a moment from The Millennium Tour where all four of her children were able to see her perform live for the first time, an experience that brought her to tears of joy.