Nivea says leukemia diagnosis has reset her life and music plans
The R&B singer said on “Cadillac Chronicles” that treatment is going well as she returns to music and studies audio engineering.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
Nivea has revealed she is being treated for leukemia, telling the musical interview series “Cadillac Chronicles” that the diagnosis came earlier this year and has changed the way she thinks about her future.
The 44-year-old R&B singer, known for “Don’t Mess with My Man,” said during the sit-down that her treatment is continuing to go well. TMZ reported that Nivea credited God as she described the progress she has made so far.
According to the interview, Nivea said the health scare has forced her to look at life differently. She described the experience as a reminder that circumstances can shift quickly and said it has pushed her to take chances she might once have delayed.
That includes a fresh push into music. Nivea said she is returning to the studio and also going to school for audio engineering, with the goal of learning how to mix her own records.
The singer said she is also pouring energy into her family. Nivea is the mother of four children, including three with her former husband, R&B singer and producer The-Dream.
Nivea and The-Dream married in 2004, according to TMZ. During their marriage, they welcomed daughter Navy and twin sons London and Christian. The couple separated in 2007.
Before that marriage, Nivea had been in a relationship with Lil Wayne. TMZ reported that the two became engaged in 2002 before Wayne ended the engagement the following year.
Nivea and Wayne later reunited after her split from The-Dream. They welcomed their son, Neal Carter, in 2009.
Neal, Wayne and Nivea’s only child together, has since started making music under the name Lil Novi, according to TMZ.
Through her treatment, Nivea said she is trying to stay focused on gratitude, her children and her creative work. She told “Cadillac Chronicles” that she is now doing the things she had long wanted to do, including building the skills to take more control of her sound.
The singer has not shared additional medical details in the interview beyond saying she was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year and that her treatment has been going well.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.