Lil Nas X is opening up about his mental health and recovery after months away from the public spotlight, telling fans that treatment, therapy and time with family have helped him feel more stable and less afraid.
The Grammy-winning artist, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, shared a nearly three-minute video on Instagram on Wednesday morning. In the video, he said he had spent several months in rehab and had been moving between Atlanta, where he is from and where his family lives, and Los Angeles, where he resides.
The update follows a difficult period for the 27-year-old musician. In 2025, he was arrested in Los Angeles after police responded to reports of a man walking in public while partially unclothed. Authorities later accused him of charging at officers during the encounter. He was charged with three felony counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer. He pleaded not guilty.
In April, a judge allowed Lil Nas X to enter a mental health diversion program. The court reportedly found that the police encounter was connected to his bipolar disorder diagnosis and appeared to be inconsistent with his typical behavior. If he follows the treatment program and obeys the law for two years, the charges may be dismissed.
TRENDING TODAY
In his Instagram video, Lil Nas X publicly discussed his bipolar disorder diagnosis and said he now works with both a therapist and a psychiatrist. He said that support has been “really helpful” and admitted that he had suspected for years that he might have the condition but struggled to accept it.
He said part of that hesitation came from fear of medication and concern about whether people would see him differently. The artist also used humor while discussing the diagnosis, joking that he was already living life on “extreme hard mode,” but he returned to a serious message about healing and self-acceptance.
“I’m doing much better,” he said, adding that he feels more grounded and creatively free. He also told fans there is “less fear” in his heart.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that can cause major shifts in mood, energy, sleep, activity and concentration. These shifts can include manic or hypomanic episodes, marked by unusually elevated or irritable energy, and depressive episodes, marked by sadness, low energy or hopelessness. Treatment can involve therapy, medication, lifestyle changes and long-term support.
Lil Nas X’s update is significant because he is one of the most visible young artists in pop music, known for blending country, rap and pop while using humor and visual storytelling to challenge genre and identity expectations. His willingness to discuss mental health publicly may help reduce stigma for fans who face similar struggles.
The artist also told supporters that he is working on new music. He said he has been making music for seven years and wants fans to know that new material is on the way, even as he continues focusing on recovery.
Near the end of the video, Lil Nas X thanked his fans directly. He said he loves them and wants to continue making them proud while also making himself proud.
His legal case is not fully over, but the court-approved diversion program gives him a path forward if he remains in treatment and avoids further legal trouble. For now, the message from the artist is that he is healing, taking his diagnosis seriously and preparing to return to music on his own terms.
Why It Matters
Lil Nas X’s update matters because it shows a public figure speaking openly about mental health treatment, diagnosis and stigma. For fans, especially young people, that kind of honesty can make seeking help feel less isolating.
The case also highlights how mental health diversion programs can work in the legal system. Instead of focusing only on punishment, the court has given Lil Nas X a treatment-based path that could lead to the charges being dismissed if he follows the program.
What Comes Next
Lil Nas X will need to continue complying with the terms of his mental health diversion program for two years. If he completes treatment and obeys all laws, the felony charges tied to the 2025 incident could be dismissed.
Musically, he said new work is coming, though he did not provide a release date. Fans will be watching to see how his recovery and personal growth shape the next chapter of his career.
Lil Nas X spoke publicly about his bipolar disorder diagnosis, treatment and how therapy and psychiatric care have helped him.
Lil Nas X opens up about his bipolar diagnosis and says “I have a therapist now and a psychiatrist which has been really helpful.”
“When I got my bipolar disorder diagnosis, I feel like I had known for the past few years but I [didn’t] want to admit to it because I didn’t want… pic.twitter.com/BWrQagjpHg
— Variety (@Variety) June 17, 2026
