At an earlier point in his career, Lil Nas X was a lightning rod for attention — whether in the form of Number One singles or outraged controversy surrounding his visual output. But over the past year, the 27-year-old musician has largely been absent from the spotlight. In a candid new video shared on Instagram, the artist born Montero Hill opens up about his experience fortifying his mental health in rehab, healing with the help of a therapist and psychologist, and moving forward with “less fear in my heart.”
“I’ve been in rehab for a few months, and since then I’ve been back at home, whether it’s in Atlanta with my family or in Los Angeles with myself and friends and whatnot,” he said, “and trying to ground myself down to Earth and get out of my head. I have a therapist now and a psychiatrist, which has been really helpful.”
The singer and rapper wrote down his talking points for the video, acknowledging at the start that he felt awkward and nervous to address everyone after so much time away. Later on, he thanked his fans for sticking by him. “We’ve been through so much together,” he said. “I love you and all I want to do is continue to try to make you proud and make myself proud.”
It’s the same vulnerability he admits to having had to open himself up to following his bipolar disorder diagnosis. “I feel like I had known for like the past few years, but I didn’t want to admit to it because I didn’t want to have to take medication,” Lil Nas X said. Mostly, he didn’t want people to see him differently. He’s already grown familiar with that experience not only in his career, but in his identity.
“I mean, I’m already Black and gay, like, damn, God,” he joked. “Gay, bipolar, like I’m living life on extreme hard mode. But on a serious note, I’m doing much better, I’m feeling better, I’m creating freely, and there’s less fear in my heart. I’m just smelling the roses.”
In April, Lil Nas X was granted entry into a mental health diversion program as a Los Angeles judge found that his August 2025 arrest was linked to his subsequent diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The case, in which he was accused of allegedly battering three Los Angeles police officers, will be dismissed as long as he complies with his treatment plan and obeys all laws for the next two years.
At the time of the initial incident, some spectators assumed it was the latest in a long-running string of stunts that helped catapult Lil Nas X into pop stardom. Over the years, some audiences grew tired of spectacle being prioritized over the true perspective of an artist who clearly has more to offer.
A return to the spotlight isn’t the first plan of action for the Grammy Award-winning musician, for good reason; but when he’s ready, the healing he’s sought over the past few months will allow him to create from a place of clarity and stability.
“I’ve been doing music for seven years now, that’s crazy,” he said. “Speaking of music, I want to let you guys know that there is new music on the way. I’m not getting completely to that just yet. I’m excited to do that and I’m excited to go on this journey with you guys.”
