Country music star Lisa McHugh has asked fans to keep her young children in their thoughts as she battles a recent health setback. The singer, who has been open about her journey with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), is currently hospitalized with sepsis, forcing her to postpone a highly anticipated return to the stage.
McHugh first revealed her FND diagnosis in July 2025, detailing a challenging period of medical testing and a difficult road to recovery, which included relearning to walk. The singer has been candid about the impact of her health struggles on her family life, particularly the difficulty of explaining her frequent hospitalizations to her two young children, Milo and Hallie.
In a recent social media post, McHugh expressed feelings of guilt over being away from her children, stating, “It’s been a tough week health-wise, but the hardest part of all has been the guilt. This is at least the 6th time in the last 18 months I’ve had to suddenly disappear for days, sometimes weeks, without being able to explain anything to Milo.” She then asked her followers to “Please keep my little babies at home in your prayers, too.”
While McHugh expressed optimism about her recovery, noting that “My body is finally responding well to the treatment — infection markers are coming down each day, and I’m really hoping to be home soon,” she was recently readmitted to the hospital after developing sepsis. This led to the cancellation of her performance with Nathan Carter at the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny.
Addressing her fans, McHugh shared, “Hi everyone, I’m so sorry to say that I won’t be able to perform tonight with Nathan Carter at the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny. I was admitted to hospital a couple of days ago with sepsis, but I want to reassure you all that I’m in the right place and receiving the best care and treatment to get things under control. I just demand a little time to rest and recover, but I will be absolutely fine.”
Understanding Functional Neurological Disorder
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a condition that affects the nervous system’s function, causing neurological symptoms like seizures, speech problems, tremors, and weakness, even when standard tests like CT scans and MRIs show no structural damage, according to the BBC. McHugh discussed her diagnosis in November on The Late Late Show, noting the overwhelming support she received after sharing her story. She highlighted the lack of awareness surrounding FND and the struggles faced by many who are diagnosed and left without adequate support.
“It’s when they do all the examinations, they do all the bloods, they do the CTs, and the results come back normal, but your symptoms are incredibly real,” McHugh explained to host Patrick Kielty. “I had never heard of it before… but since I have shared my story, the thousands of messages I have had from people to say that they’re going through something similar and they’ve been sent home and they’ve no help.”
Recent Health Challenges and Fan Support
The recent sepsis diagnosis represents a setback in McHugh’s recovery journey. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection spirals out of control, leading to tissue damage, organ failure, and potentially death, according to the Yahoo Entertainment. Despite this challenge, McHugh remains optimistic and grateful for the outpouring of support from her fans.
Social media has been flooded with messages of encouragement for the singer. One fan wrote, “Aww Lisa i’m sorry to hear your back in Hospital. This concert wasn’t meant to be. You take care of yourself. Plenty more concerts in the future with Nathan,” while another added, “your health is your path to stage performance again you’ll be back in full health and voice.”
Lisa McHugh’s story highlights the challenges faced by individuals living with FND and the importance of raising awareness about this complex condition. As she focuses on her recovery, fans continue to send their well wishes and support, hoping for her swift return to health and the stage.
The singer’s health journey is ongoing, and her next steps will depend on her response to treatment for sepsis. Fans and colleagues alike are sending positive energy and hoping for a full recovery. We encourage readers to share their support for Lisa McHugh during this challenging time.
