Celebrity News

Jessie J opens up about overcoming illness

Jessie J gave an emotional speech about overcoming illness at a gala for Musicians on Call, which brings music to hospital patients and injured veterans.

The British singer-songwriter was diagnosed as a child with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which can cause an irregular heartbeat.

She told a crowd at Espace, “When I was a child, I was sick and I wished someone would come and sing to me. I feel so happy that I am on the other side and now I can give back. I never let my illness define me.”

Republic Records EVP Charlie Walk was honored, and stars including Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande (who called Walk a “musical genius . . . also just a really stellar dude”) joined a video tribute to Walk.

Guests included Republic Records’ Monte and Avery Lipman, Lava Records’ Jason Flom, Pete Wentz, Nick Lachey and Elvis Duran.

Jessie J added of meeting Walk, “I remember him saying to me, ‘You can do this.’ It’s so crazy how many people think that artists know that. Not only did he say that, he showed me that he believed I could. And to this day I am so thankful.”