Joe Ely Faces Health Battle as New Album Prepares to Drop

Joe Ely, the famed Texas singer-songwriter known for his raw blend of country, rock, and Americana, is facing a serious health challenge that has temporarily taken him off the road.

The influential musician, whose career spans over six decades, has long been a staple of the American music landscape. Recent developments in his health were brought to light by wife and manager Sharon Ely on Jan. 30 in an Instagram post.

Last August, while recovering from pneumonia, Ely experienced what appeared to be a small stroke.

“Joe has always been very private when discussing his health and we have kept his latest challenges limited to just a few people. But as his illness progresses we have decided to let people know what’s going on,” she stated.

After the incident, the couple sought immediate medical advice. With no neurologist available nearby except one in Austin, Sharon drove Joe from Taos, New Mexico, to the city for an urgent consultation.

There, after examining Ely’s MRI, the neurologist diagnosed him with cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a condition in which protein deposits in small brain blood vessels weaken their walls and increase the risk of bleeding.

Following the diagnosis, Ely was put on medication and his health is overseen by a general practitioner in Taos. Yet, both his doctor and Sharon felt a second opinion was needed to fully understand his condition.

“But Joe’s GP and I feel that Joe needs a second opinion on his diagnosis. We are very lucky in that we just confirmed an appointment for that second opinion in Arizona next week. These appointments can book over a year out and it’s a miracle they were able to get Joe in so fast,” she wrote.

Amid these health issues, Joe and Sharon have turned to music as a source of comfort and inspiration. They have been reviewing recordings from Joe’s studio.

“Meanwhile, as we are working with Joe’s health, he and I have listened to files and files and files of music that he recorded in his studio in Austin over the years. We have discovered and unearthed treasures of brilliant recordings. Some are coming together as complete albums,” Sharon wrote.

One project emerging from this rediscovery is the new album Love & Freedom, which will be released Feb. 7. Sharon explained, “The latest album Joe wanted to release as soon as possible is Love & Freedom. As we listened to these recordings we discovered that they are related to the times we are living today. Joe wanted people to hear these songs and think about what they mean.”

Joe Ely was recently named one of the recipients of the 2025 Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music’s American Music Honors. Sharon wrote “I have always believed Joe ... should be recognized as an important part of American Music History. Now my dream has come true as this is such a great honor.”

Looking ahead, the Ely family remains determined to move forward, balancing a serious diagnosis with creative expression. “All in all, we continue to work daily to move forward... I do especially feel hopeful for Joe to find a wonderful, genius neurologist to help him get better as well,” Sharon concluded.