What is the state of musician Phil Collins' health

1. A long, public decline: the medical timeline that Collins himself outlines

Collins has publicly connected a 2007 spinal injury to severe nerve damage that precipitated further problems—back surgery that left him with drop foot and diminished ability to grip drumsticks—and multiple knee operations (five surgeries reported) that over time left him ambulatory only with assistance ^[5][6][7][8]. Journalists summarizing his recent BBC interview and related coverage note that these cumulative issues, along with bouts of serious illness including COVID, have made routine independence difficult and forced him to step back from performing with Genesis in 2022 ^[2][6][8].

2. The new detail everyone is reporting: 24-hour live-in nursing care

In a January 2026 interview series tied to his 75th birthday, Collins said he now has a live-in nurse to ensure medication management and round-the-clock care—a fact widely reported across outlets from People to CNN, USA Today and Variety ^[1][2][6][3]. Coverage frames this as an escalation from prior support and clarifies that the nurse is to oversee daily treatments and adherence to medication routines rather than serving as a dramatic end-of-life measure ^[3][7].

3. Causes and accountability: alcohol, illness and medical complications

Collins has candidly attributed some problems—particularly kidney issues—to past heavy drinking and has reported months-long hospitalizations; he also states he is now sober for more than two years, an aspect media have repeatedly noted ^[9][6][10]. Reporting ties kidney failure and related hospital stays to his history of alcohol use while noting that chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes and the long-term effects of nerve damage and surgeries have compounded his fragility ^[1][5].

4. Tone and interpretation: how coverage varies and what may be implied

While many headlines emphasize the “24/7 care” angle—sometimes implying imminent decline—some outlets like the Los Angeles Times urge readers to temper alarmism, pointing out Collins’ own upbeat reflections on his career and that the BBC conversation framed his health as “ongoing” management rather than immediate hospice-level deterioration ^[7][8]. Industry outlets add context about retirement from drumming in 2022 and his continued involvement in other projects, suggesting a mix of functional limitation and continued creative presence ^[8][4].

5. What is certain, and what remains unclear

It is factual from Collins’ own remarks and consistent reporting that he uses 24-hour nursing care, has a history of spinal nerve damage, multiple knee surgeries, kidney problems linked to drinking, COVID complications and Type 2 diabetes, and that these issues ended his drumming career ^[1][5][6][3]. What is not fully documented in the reports provided—and therefore cannot be asserted here—are precise clinical diagnoses, prognostic timelines, the exact level of daily functionality beyond general descriptions of assisted walking, or detailed medical records; outlets rely on Collins’ interview and representative statements rather than independent medical disclosure ^[2][3][7].

6. The human story beyond the headlines

Across interviews and features, Collins mixes candor about error and accountability—especially regarding alcohol—and gratitude for recovery moments, noting sobriety and small freedoms after retirement, which complicates tabloid-ready narratives of decline and suggests a complex, managed health reality rather than a single catastrophic event ^[10][6][8]. Sources range from personality-focused outlets (People, HuffPost) to industry trade press (Variety, Consequence) and mainstream news (CNN, USA Today), each carrying different emphases—sympathy, spectacle, medical detail—and readers should weigh those lenses when interpreting the full picture ^[1][4][2].