Emily Saliers, a beloved figure in folk-rock music and one-half of the iconic duo Indigo Girls, has publicly shared a significant health update, revealing her diagnosis with two incurable medical conditions that will inevitably impact her vocal performances. The candid disclosure, made via the band’s official Instagram account, comes just as the Indigo Girls are set to embark on their highly anticipated U.S. tour. The announcement has galvanized a wave of support from fellow musicians, devoted fans, and industry colleagues, underscoring Saliers’ enduring impact and the deep connection she shares with her audience.
The revelation was delivered through a video message recorded during tour rehearsals in Atlanta. Saliers, who forms the acclaimed duo with Amy Ray, explained her desire for complete transparency with their supporters. She detailed her ongoing struggles with cervical dystonia, a neurological movement disorder, and essential tremor, a nervous system disorder that causes involuntary shaking. These conditions, she stated, have been a concern for some time and are progressively worsening.
Understanding the Diagnoses: Cervical Dystonia and Essential Tremor
Saliers provided a clear and poignant explanation of her conditions. Cervical dystonia, she elaborated, affects the part of the brain responsible for controlling movement. In individuals with this condition, the brain sends signals that cause muscles to tighten. For Saliers, this manifests as her head twisting to the right and being misaligned, often accompanied by head shaking. She described the difficulty in holding her head centrally without experiencing tremors, a physical reality that directly impacts the intricate mechanics of singing.
The essential tremor, Saliers confessed, has been particularly challenging. This disorder causes involuntary shaking or movement and affects the crucial components of her singing apparatus: the larynx, pharyngeal muscles, jaw, and diaphragm, which provides the essential air supply for vocalization. The tremor disrupts her ability to create the necessary muscular and structural connections required for sustained singing. Furthermore, she described the essential tremor as imparting a "horrible vibrato" that she never previously experienced, making it physically impossible for her to hold a steady, straight tone, a hallmark of the Indigo Girls’ signature harmonies.
“Many of you have noticed that my voice – maybe all of you have noticed, it’s pretty noticeable – that my voice is not what it once was,” Saliers stated in the video, her voice tinged with both vulnerability and resolve. “So I wanted to share with you that I’ve been diagnosed with two movement disorders. One is called cervical dystonia with torticollis, which basically is in the part of my brain that controls movement… And in other people with this condition, the brain sends signals to tighten muscles. So because of the cervical dystonia, my head twists to the right and is misaligned. It can cause shaking of the head. It’s impossible for me to hold my head centrally without shaking, things like that. So structurally, obviously, that is problematic for this whole throat area.”
She continued, addressing the essential tremor: “But the other diagnosis, which is harder in fact for me, is an essential tremor. And the essential tremor causes involuntary shakes or movement, and it affects all the parts of my singing apparatus, the larynx, the pharyngeal muscles, my jaw and my diaphragm from which I get all the air for singing. So I’m unable to make the connections muscularly and structurally because of the essential tremor. What else the essential tremor does is give me this – I am gonna call it horrible, because it’s horrible to me – vibrato that I never used to have. I am completely physically unable to hold a straight tone the way I used to.”
Saliers emphasized the significance of their vocal harmonies to the Indigo Girls’ identity and fan experience. “What you, our community, have come to, I think, appreciate and love about some of our harmonies is the way we can hold long straight tones together. So I want to give you a heads up about that, in full transparency,” she explained.
A Legacy of Musical Excellence and Upcoming Tour
The Indigo Girls, a Grammy-winning duo whose career spans decades, have consistently charted high on the Billboard 200, with albums like Swamp Ophelia and Shaming of the Sun reaching the top 10 in the mid-1990s. They have also achieved significant success on the Americana/Folk Albums chart, with five albums reaching the top 5. Their self-titled 1989 album earned them the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Recording.
As Saliers shared her health update, the Indigo Girls were gearing up for the launch of their U.S. tour, which commenced in Athens, Ohio, on Friday, April 24. The tour is scheduled to continue through mid-December, promising a full season of performances for their dedicated fanbase.
Proactive Management and Adaptive Strategies
Despite the incurable nature of her diagnoses, Saliers is actively engaged in a comprehensive treatment plan aimed at mitigating her symptoms and maximizing her vocal capabilities. This plan includes therapeutic massage, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and acupuncture. She is also receiving Botox injections in her neck and shoulders, a common treatment for cervical dystonia that can help relax overactive muscles.
Furthermore, Saliers is collaborating with a vocal coach who specializes in working with singers diagnosed with movement disorders. This partnership is crucial for developing new techniques and strategies to adapt her singing style and performance to her current physical reality.
"Unfortunately, there’s no cure for these, so the honest fact is that my voice will not be what it was,” Saliers candidly stated. “That’s really hard for me. Amy’s been super supportive, and we want you to know that as we get ready for these shows, we are doing everything we can to make the songs sound as good as they can possibly sound or ever sound, which includes all the modern digital tools that front-of-house engineers use to help singers sound better.”
Embracing Aging and Vulnerability
At 62, Saliers reflected on the challenges of experiencing these health issues at this stage of her life. She acknowledged the natural process of aging and framed her conditions within that broader context. “I hate that I’m only 62 and it’s happened to me, but we are both aging. People age. We are trying to look at this organically as a process of our own aging,” she shared. This perspective underscores a mature and accepting approach to the inevitable changes that come with time and life experiences.
An Outpouring of Support and Admiration
The immediate aftermath of Saliers’ announcement saw an overwhelming surge of support. Her bandmate, Amy Ray, has been a constant source of encouragement throughout this challenging period. Beyond Ray’s personal support, the online community erupted with messages of solidarity and admiration.
Chely Wright, a fellow artist, captured the sentiment of many with her comment: "You are the definition of authenticity, courage and grace." This echoed the widespread appreciation for Saliers’ honesty and resilience.
Brandi Carlile, a long-time admirer and Grammy-winning artist who has previously covered the Indigo Girls’ hit "Cannonball," took to her own Instagram to share the duo’s video update. Carlile’s heartfelt message highlighted the profound influence of the Indigo Girls on her own musical journey and the deep respect she holds for their artistry and integrity.
"This is why these two have been my heroes and the only reason I ever picked up a guitar. Being an @indigogirls fan is a life-long privilege," Carlile wrote. "Indigo Girls fans already have an evolved perspective on aging and a deeper understanding of how badass vulnerability really is. This is because of the music they have given us. Wisdom breeds wisdom. To say we have Emily’s back is the understatement of the century. If you love to sing, Emily, sing. We will be there singing with you. We are the luckiest fans in the world – we know our verses, and we know the words to every song. Let’s sing them back at the Indigo Girls louder than ever."
This powerful endorsement from Carlile reflects a broader understanding among fans that the Indigo Girls’ music has always been about more than just polished perfection; it has been about authentic expression, emotional resonance, and the courage to share one’s truth. The community’s response suggests a willingness to embrace the evolving sound of the Indigo Girls, finding beauty and strength in the vulnerability that Saliers has so bravely revealed. The tour is expected to be a testament to this enduring connection, with fans eager to support Saliers and witness the duo’s continued artistry in the face of adversity.
