Key Takeaways
- Freddie has been open about his health struggles, discussing both physical and mental challenges over the years.
- He clarified that his weight loss was due to lifestyle changes, not illness.
- Throughout his career, he released 14 albums, toured extensively, and won multiple awards,
Freddie Jackson, a well-known singer from New York, has not disclosed having cancer, though he is currently battling kidney disease.
While kidney disease is more prevalent, there are cases where cancer can develop in the kidneys, with renal cell carcinoma being the most common type in adults. However, Jackson has not brought up anything related to cancer.
R&B artist Freddie took to Instagram on September 3, 2024, to announce his kidney disease diagnosis.
In a recent Instagram post, the “You Are My Lady” singer revealed his collaboration with the National Kidney Foundation to help raise awareness and provide support to those battling the same condition.
In response to the news, a user commented:
Sending love and prayers your way 🙏🏽❤️! You’re incredibly brave for sharing your journey. God is with you! ❤️
While another wrote:
Freddie, we love you! 🙏🏾❤️ Stay strong, you’ve got this! 💪🏽 We’re here for you. ❤️
Fans were concerned after he struggled with “Rock Me Tonight” during his July 2024 West Indies performance despite sharing regular fitness updates.
He has previously shared details about his health struggles and admitted to the physical and mental challenges he has faced. In September 2023, he said:
You know, sometimes we go through aches and pains, and sometimes, as guys, we don’t go to the doctor like we need to. We just feel like we’re always supermen. So, I go to the doctor a few times, and he’s like, You might want to check this out, letting me know something is wrong. I go, ‘No! Not me, I’m Mr. Rock Me Tonight. And he’s like, ‘You’re being rocked and don’t even know it’
Freddie lost a considerable amount of weight over the years, prompting fans to speculate that his weight loss was caused by cancer or HIV/AIDS.
His appearance at the St. Kitts Music Festival wasn’t the first time fans worried about his health; videos from December 2017 showed noticeable weight loss during a New Year’s Eve performance.
Days after the performance, he clarified his weight loss wasn’t due to illness but from making healthier lifestyle choices, as reported by Magic 95.5.
In a 2015 WBLS interview, Jackson revealed that a doctor’s warning about his health motivated his 107-pound weight loss, prompting him to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Freddie Jackson Career: From Gospel To R&B Icon
Harlem-born singer Freddie Jackson, who trained in gospel from a young age, gained fame for his R&B/soul classics like “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” and “You Are My Lady” in the mid-1980s.
He began his professional music journey in the late 1970s with the funk band Mystic Merlin, eventually achieving major success with several chart-topping hits.
While his momentum slowed after his 1988 release Don’t Let Love Slip Away, Jackson continued to make music, including contributing to the All Dogs Go to Heaven soundtrack and appearing in King of New York.
In 1993, he transitioned to RCA/BMG and released a string of albums such as Here It Is (1994) and For You (2010).
With 14 albums under his belt, Jackson has toured extensively and earned multiple accolades, including a 1988 American Music Award for “Nice ‘N’ Slow” and two Grammy nominations in 1985.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Freddie Jackson, born on October 2, 1956, received the birth name Frederick Anthony Jackson.
- He released his first album, Rock Me Tonight, in 1985, and it became an instant success.
