The sultry voice and sunglasses of the singer called H.E.R. had everybody nodding their head and grooving to her smooth grooves for the past few years. Her signature guitar solo, along with her playing drums and piano and writing "grown-folks" lyrics, has made the singer's "old soul"-sounding music a fan favorite for fans of all ages.
Recently, H.E.R., whose real name is Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson, shared some real-life, soul-stirring news as her mother had been fighting lung cancer over the past year. But good news is, mom is cancer-free and was able to celebrate her birthday.
"Today (and every day) I’m celebrating the sweetest, funniest, most thoughtful, and strongest person I know," the singer started off in her Instagram post. "Last year My mom was diagnosed with lung cancer and we didn’t know if she was going to make it to this birthday. After finding out it was early-stage lung cancer she was able to get surgery to remove it."
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"It has been a very emotional journey. Bittersweet because I know this isn’t everyone’s story. I don’t take a day for granted and nothing can phase me anymore haha. She has been such a WARRIOR. Anyways, y’all know I’m super private, but you guys always show my mom so much love. To many more years of life. 🎉🎉🎉❤️❤️❤️Mahal Kita Mommy. Ako Bahala Sa’yo no matter what, forever and ever!!!!! Praying to stay #cancerfree #cancersucks she’ll be running marathons again in no time!"
A recent study about the rates of lung cancer in younger women made some alarming headlines. That research found that lung cancer in women between the ages of 35 and 54 is more common than it is among men in the same age group.
Unfortunately, lung cancer is still the number one cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. and globally. But communities of color have a lower survival rate. For Black Americans, the 5-year survival rate is just 18%. And in the African American community, tobacco use is the top cause of preventable death.
Overall, though, the news about lung cancer is largely hopeful. In fact, another recent study found that survival rates for lung cancer are improving, especially among historically marginalized communities of color. This is due to advances in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer, which have resulted in a greater number of people with lung cancer being cured or living a much longer time with the disease.
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https://youtu.be/bzz6ko9e_es?si=dMzJLPSkaIv3FKiK
HER's self-titled compilation album (2017), which peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200 and, from five total nominations, won two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance for its single, "Best Part" (with Daniel Caesar). Her second compilation album, I Used to Know Her (2019), was met with similar commercial success and likewise received five Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year for its single, "Hard Place".
In 2021, she won her third Grammy Award for Song of the Year with her George Floyd protest-inspired single "I Can't Breathe." That same year, her song "Fight for You"—released for the film Judas and the Black Messiah—won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance. Her debut studio album, Back of My Mind (2021) was met with critical acclaim and peaked at number six on the Billboard 200. In 2022, she won the Children's and Family Emmy Award for her contributions on Barack and Michelle Obama's animated children's series, We the People.
Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson was born on June 27, 1997, in Vallejo, California, to a Filipino American mother and a Black father, and raised in California's San Francisco Bay Area. According to an interview with Guitar Center, Wilson's father was a musician in a cover band, and hosted their practice sessions in the family's living room. Additionally, members of her mother's extended family were guitarists, drummers and bassists, as well as vocalists, often playing for karaoke events.
At the end of the day, I’ve always believed that love conquers all. I’ve listened to Sly & The Family Stone — my favorite — as well as Marvin Gaye, Prince, Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder and Curtis Mayfield. Their message was always the same: “This is what’s happening around us, but let’s accept and love each other the way we are.” And then there’s the blues. That’s one of my biggest influences just because of the pain in the music.
With Mother's Day coming up, this post by H.E.R. resonated with celebrities and fans alike.
Fan and follower, 2therealshemekanicole commented "I lost my mom last year to cancer, so this story is great to read that someone’s mom has defeated their Goliath! Praise God and please, please continue to love on her every single day!!! Please never be too busy to love on her, because losing your mother is the worst pain you can ever experience! You two are Beautiful!!!"
