Carly Pearce Opens Up About Debilitating Heart Condition

Country music star Carly Pearce has shared more details about the frightening heart condition she revealed in 2024, discussing her experience with pericarditis on Today earlier this year.

The 35-year-old singer explained that she had been battling this condition for nearly five years. Pericarditis is the inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart, which can cause severe chest pain and shortness of breath. Pearce described a debilitating chest pain that only eased when she bent forward, a classic symptom of the condition. “When you lay back, it gets way worse because that wall is kind of inflamed around your heart,” she said.

In addition to the chest pain, Pearce also struggled with intense shortness of breath, likening it to the sensation of “sucking through a straw.”

While Pearce only made the condition public in 2024, she revealed that she had been managing recurrent pericarditis since 2020, experiencing several flare-ups over the years.

“I’m doing better,” she said during her interview. “I’m healthy. I’m trying to find my new normal.” Pearce also noted that her family has a history of heart issues, with her father surviving a widowmaker heart attack when she was just 19. She admitted that her father’s experience has been a source of support as she navigates her own heart health challenges.

Despite the ongoing condition, Pearce’s openness about her health struggles highlights her resilience and determination to keep moving forward with her career and personal life.