Carly Pearce reveals worst fear after chronic heart condition diagnosis

Country music star Carly Pearce has opened up about her biggest fear after being diagnosed with chronic heart disease.

Pearce, 36, learned in 2024 that he had relapsing pericarditis, a condition that causes inflammation in the tissue surrounding the heart. The “Every Little Thing” singer previously shared that she has been experiencing recurring chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue since 2020.

In an interview with Fox News Digital at its annual “Carly’s Closet” fundraiser, Pearce shared the biggest emotional challenge she faced following her diagnosis.

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“I think when you get any diagnosis, it can be scary and you wonder, ‘Is this going to happen again? Am I OK?’ I think it might cause anxiety. For me, it’s like, ‘Oh my God, is my heart okay? Pearce: “Am I going to have a heart attack?” he said.

Pearce spoke with Fox News Digital at her annual charity pop-up, “Carly’s Closet,” held during CMA Fest in Nashville, Tennessee. At the fundraiser, fans can shop from the singer’s personal wardrobe, and Pearce will donate the proceeds to the CMA Foundation, which supports music education initiatives.

Pearce went on to explain how she avoids dwelling on worst-case scenarios when living with pericarditis.

“I just want to make sure you educate yourself to know that these things don’t happen,” he said.

The Grammy Award winner also advised others not to rely on online medical searches if they receive scary medical diagnoses.

“Don’t go on ChatGPT or WedMD,” Pearce warned.

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In February, Rolling Stone’s “Nashville NowPearce urged fans to seek medical attention immediately if health issues arise.

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“This was something I developed in 2020 and I didn’t know what it was for a really long time. It was kind of misdiagnosed and also dismissed,” Pearce explained.

“‘Oh, you have anxiety. Oh, you have a busy schedule,'” Pearce recalled doctors saying. “And it’s like, ‘No, something’s not right.’ And so I went public with it in 2024 just because it gave me a buzz for a minute. But I’m doing really well. And I haven’t had any major flare-ups. But I still try to be honest with people and use my platform to say, ‘Please go get it checked, because something was wrong.’

After announcing his diagnosis in May 2024, Pearce recalled facing early doubts about his symptoms and said he persisted until doctors determined the source of his health problems.

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“My biggest advice to everyone is: Listen to your body and be your own advocate. … Many doctors rejected me, and I persisted until I was diagnosed,” she said at the time.

The country singer was diagnosed with recurrent pericarditis in 2024. (Gilbert Flores/Penske Media)

In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Pearce revealed that she is learning how to live with her condition and shared a positive update regarding her health.

“I’m doing really well right now,” he said. “I feel like I’m in a really good place health-wise and I feel like I have a plan in place if I’m going to have recurring attacks of pericarditis. I’m well equipped and educated enough to know what to do at this point.”

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When asked if managing his condition changed his approach to touring and performing, Pearce shared that it actually taught him a valuable lesson about health.

““I think that’s probably changed my exercise routine more,” she said. “I don’t need to turn the treadmill up to 12 or work out harder than every other person in the class. I guess I didn’t run that hard or all that.”

“I just pay attention to my body and listen to my body instead of thinking it has to be at 10 all the time,” Pearce added.

Pearce was worried he might have a heart attack. (Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for ABA)

Pearce has previously said his condition has forced him to reduce the intensity of his live performances, but he is determined to tour and perform scheduled shows. The singer is currently working on her fifth studio album, which will follow her album “Hummingbird” in 2024.

She has already released singles that will appear on her upcoming album, including “Dream Come True,” “Church Girl,” “You Can Have Him” ​​and her duet with Riley Green, “If I Don’t Leave, I’m Gonna Stay.”

While speaking with Fox News Digital, Pearce talked about his 2021 album “29: Written in Stone,” which was inspired by the difficult events he experienced during his 29th birthday; including her divorce from singer Michael Ray and the death of her longtime producer and mentor, Busbee.

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Carly Pearce and Michael Ray, who divorced in 2020, were seen at the CMA Awards in 2019. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Pearce married Ray in October 2019, but filed for divorce just eight months later in June 2020. Pearce has previously described this period as one of the most difficult periods of his life and admitted that he felt ashamed of his divorce.

Busbee, born Michael James Ryan Busbee, died in September 2019 at the age of 43 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Pearce said Busbee’s death left a void both personally and professionally, forcing him to move forward without the producer who helped launch his career. He later said that her mentorship gave him the confidence to find his own voice and create “29.”

The album marked a major turning point in Pearce’s career, reaching number 9 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and number 32 on the Billboard 200 chart.

“29” also produced some of her biggest hits, including her collaboration with Ashley McBride, “Never Wanted to Be That Girl”; It topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart, won Country Music Association (CMA) awards, and later won a Grammy Award.

The record received album of the year nominations at both the CMA Awards and the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, leading to an entry into the Grand Ole Opry.

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Looking back, Pearce told Fox News Digital that he’s “in a much better place than when I wrote ’29,’ but a lot of great things came from ’29.”

“That’s why I’m so grateful [but] “I never want to go back to ’29 again,” he added.

Pearce also shared what fans can expect from his upcoming album, which Fox News Digital previously said will be a return to his Kentucky and Appalachian bluegrass roots.

“This is the most honest music I’ve ever made,” he said. “I think I’m really celebrating being a woman and loving where I am in life and getting back to the one thing I can control, which is music, and sharing more of who I am than I have.”

The singer shared what fans can expect from her upcoming fifth studio album. (Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images)

During the interview, Pearce explained why he continues to hold the fundraiser every year after first launching it in 2022.

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““And every year, year after year, I look out at the crowd and I look, and they look at me, and I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s a Carly’s Closet item,'” she said.

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“People seem to really enjoy it and it gives me great pleasure to be able to raise money for the CMA Foundation and also give the next phase of life to these clothes that are so beautiful and deserve another moment,” Pearce added.

WATCH: COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER CARLY PEARCE SHARES WHY HER ‘CARLY’S CLOSET’ CHARITY EVENT IS GOING ON

The “Save the Wine” hitmaker admitted that she has a hard time breaking away from a few tracks at times.

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““Some of them I’m really happy to get rid of, some of them, to be honest, there were a few things here, they were in my closet for about six years and they were just sentimental to me, but they’re gone, they’re gone,” he said.

““There are things that are very, very emotional to me that I can never get rid of,” he continued. “But they all have a story.”

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“It’s like last year I sang with Rascal Flatts and wore that outfit to the stadium, and it was such a great memory,” Pearce said, pointing to one of the shopping racks.

“Or I wore this on the red carpet. I wore it on the red carpet,” she added, pointing to another. “It’s like all this [the 2005 movie] ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.’ I know I said this but just like every item has a story, I think that’s what makes it special and people can create their own memories every now and then.“