Natalie Cole Hospitalized In New York

Access Hollywood - September 19, 2008 2:05 PM PDT
Story photo: Natalie Cole Hospitalized In New YorkAccess Hollywood

New York, NY -- Natalie Cole has been hospitalized in New York, her rep confirms to Access Hollywood.

Cole was felled by the side effects of chemotherapy, used to combat liver disease from hepatitis C. According to People, she was further debilitated by the rigors of touring in support of her new album, "Still Unforgettable."

After she's released in a few days, the Grammy winner will head back home to LA, and she will remain on bed rest for an entire month. All of her October appearances and performances have been canceled.

Access Extended: Natalie Cole Talks New Music & Hep C Treatment - Play it Now

Last spring, Cole was diagnosed with liver disease, but after several months of treatment she was declared free of the disease. Most likely the singer contracted the disease 25 years ago when, as she detailed in her 2000 autobiography, "Angel on My Shoulder," she was a heroin abuser.

She explained to People last month that the treatment for hepatitis C left her nauseated and exhausted. "It's debilitating," she said. "My hair is starting to fall out [from the chemo]. I lost 15 lbs. and I looked like a scarecrow."

Access Hollywood sat down with Natalie less than two weeks ago to talk about her new album, and she opened up about the battle with hepatitis C. "There are days when I just can't do anything for myself," she said. "And you know, I have a couple little friends who come home and nurse me."

All Access: Music - TV One - Access Hollywood

But it's the support of family and friends that have been helping her get through the tough times.

"You know, I think when you, when you are challenged with something like this, the most important thing (after, of course, getting the proper treatment) is having the proper support group, you know? It's really, really important. I could not do what I do right now if it wasn't for the support of my family and friends. For me, it wouldn't be possible, because it's tough," she said.

Natalie explained to Access that the new album gets back to the basics of "Unforgettable." On "Still Unforgettable," Cole once again duets with her late father, the legendary Nat King Cole.

"It's a record of standards and it's very romantic and cuddly," she shared. "And I really missed making that kind of music like 'Unforgettable,' because I still think it's so special and still has so much wonderful value and it just touches you in a different way, that the other music doesn't. It's the kind of music that you can just put on. And the target audience really, for this record, is the grown up."

Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
Grammys Red Carpet 2008 - Check Out the Photos
The Playlist #2: September 15, 2008 - Play it Now
Star Sightings - Check Out the Photos

comments

show comments

comments

comments 1-10 of 14  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • no comment
    god bless and get well soon. take care of yourself for we all have done things when we were young with regrets. we love you natalie.
    report abuseposted October 5, 2008 7:20 AM PDT
  • Mabel
    I loved the album that you did with you dad, it was an awesome idea! God bless you and get well soon, you are in my prayers.
    report abuseposted October 4, 2008 6:25 PM PDT
  • Dicky K
    She was said to be fond of Internet recently. Some of her fans found her on a millionaire & celebrity dating club ^^^^^^S e e k w e a l t h y. C O M^^ ^^^^. She has a personal account there with her pictures, blog and something about her albums..
    report abuseposted September 20, 2008 7:29 AM PDT
  • I wish her well and a speedy recovery. What we sometimes do to our selves in our younger years comes back to bite us when we are older.
    report abuseposted September 20, 2008 4:18 AM PDT
  • I wish her well and a speedy recovery. What we sometimes do to our selves in our younger years comes back to bite us when we are older.
    report abuseposted September 20, 2008 4:18 AM PDT
  • I wish her well and a speedy recovery. What we sometimes do to our selves in our younger years comes back to bite us when we are older.
    report abuseposted September 20, 2008 4:17 AM PDT
  • SICOFIT
    Natalie I'll never forget the night at Humphries when you sang a song directly to me . You are so enchanting. I want you to get well soon and come back I'll always be in the front row cause you are thee classiest woman I've ever seen in concert.. I will keep you in my thoughts like many of your devoted fans. Just the memory of you warms my heart. Thank you for being yo
    report abuseposted September 19, 2008 8:36 PM PDT
  • MaryU
    Natalie Cole deserves all the prayers and support we are able to give her. She had a challenging childhood with Nat King Cole as her dad and a more challenging, albeit self imposed, young adulthood with fame and the problems drug addiction are bound to inflict. She is trying to keep her life on track. Our prayers and good wishes will go a long way to making that possible. Think about it!
    report abuseposted September 19, 2008 7:49 PM PDT
  • Abe Vigoda
    Hep c---Now that's unforgettable !
    report abuseposted September 19, 2008 6:23 PM PDT
  • honeylin
    omg please get well soon ......you are amazing .....Blessings are with you ...
    report abuseposted September 19, 2008 4:02 PM PDT
comments 1-10 of 14  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

Post A Comment

sign in to post a comment.

sign in

RELATED ARTICLES

RELATED PHOTOS

RELATED VIDEOS

Updates

Manage My Updates
Manage My Updates
More Updates »

omg!

MORE ENTERTAINMENT

ALSO ON YAHOO!

Help us to improve! - Send Your Suggestions