Phil Collins is showing signs of real recovery after years of compounding health struggles, according to a cheerful update shared recently by longtime music journalist Mark Goodman.
Goodman, a former MTV VJ who now hosts programming on SiriusXM and co-hosts the “Sound Up!” podcast with music journalist Alan Light, posted a photo of himself alongside Collins on Instagram on May 7, 2026, capturing the legendary drummer and singer looking relaxed and healthy.
“@rockhall inductee @officialphilcollins is doing well thank you after 3 years of physical challenges,” Goodman wrote. “The man comes through it all with the most positive attitude ! Great talent and a beautiful human.”
The uplifting message marks a turning point for the 75-year-old musician, who has faced a cascade of serious medical issues in recent years that forced him out of the public eye and left fans deeply concerned.
Years of Medical Setbacks
Collins opened up about the extent of his health battles in January 2026 during a rare interview with Zoe Ball for the BBC Two five-part special “Phil Collins Eras: In Conversation,” which concluded on January 26. In the conversation, recorded on January 21, Collins revealed he had undergone five operations on one knee, dealt with kidney issues tied to drinking, received a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, and spent months hospitalized — during which he also caught COVID.
“I had five operations on my knee now I’ve got a knee that works and I can walk, albeit with assistance, you know, crutches or whatever,” Collins told Ball in the interview.
Now two years sober, Collins admitted to Ball that alcohol played a significant role in his health decline. He explained that daytime drinking, rather than late-night consumption, inflicted serious damage on his kidneys. He also disclosed that he now has a 24-hour live-in nurse who helps him manage his medication.
Despite the challenges, Collins considers himself “totally mobile and healthy” — a stark contrast to 2021, when he said he could “barely hold a stick with this hand.” Speaking on January 22 in follow-up coverage of the BBC special, Collins emphasized his improved condition.
A Career Marked by Resilience
Collins’ recent troubles are rooted in a spinal injury from 2007 that caused severe nerve damage. Following a back operation, he developed drop foot, a condition that made walking difficult and eventually forced him to perform seated during his final tours. His son, Nic Collins, took over drumming duties for Genesis’ farewell run.
The Genesis frontman retired from performing in 2011, only to return for the Not Dead Yet solo tour starting in 2017. He reunited with his Genesis bandmates for The Last Domino? reunion tour, which wrapped in early 2022, before stepping away from the spotlight as his medical issues mounted.
Double Rock Hall Honors
Collins received another career milestone in April when he was voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. He was previously inducted with Genesis in 2010. When the ceremony takes place on November 14, Collins will join an elite group of drummers inducted twice — a distinction shared by Ringo Starr, Dave Grohl, and Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.
Fans responded enthusiastically to Goodman’s Instagram post, with one commenter writing, “So thankful he was inducted! I was really cheering for him!”
Hints of a Studio Return
Most intriguing for fans is Collins’ suggestion that he may return to the studio. He hasn’t released an album of original songs since 2002’s “Testify,” and his last studio LP of any kind was the 2010 Motown covers collection “Going Back.” But during his BBC conversation, Collins hinted that his creative drive remains intact.
Collins said he has “some things that are half formed or were never finished, and a couple of things that were finished,” teasing that there might be “life in the old dog” yet. He framed any return as exploratory — a chance to “have a fiddle about and see if there’s more music.” Coming from an artist who, just a few years ago, said his recording days were behind him, that’s a notable shift.
Whether new music emerges or not, the immediate story is one of hope and recovery. After three grueling years of physical setbacks, Collins appears to be on solid ground — upright, sober, and looking ahead to his November induction with a smile that suggests the worst may finally be behind him.
