Indigo Girls' Emily Saliers Diagnosed with Two Voice-Affecting Disorders, No Cure Available

The Indigo Girls announced that singer and co-founder Emily Saliers has been diagnosed with two movement disorders that impact her ability to sing.

“Unfortunately there’s no cure for these, so the honest fact is that my voice will not be what it was,”

“We needed to make y’all aware of something,” Saliers explained in the clip. “To those of you in our community who have supported us all these years, we’re so grateful for you.”

The video was recorded in Atlanta, where Saliers and Ray have been rehearsing in preparation for their upcoming tour.

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In an effort to be “completely forthcoming,” Saliers shared the video to explain the changes to her voice.

“Maybe all of you have noticed—it’s pretty noticeable—that my voice is not what it once was,” she said. “So, I wanted to share with you that I’ve been diagnosed with two movement disorders.”

Understanding Emily Saliers’ Movement Disorders

Saliers revealed she has been diagnosed with:

• Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis): A condition causing involuntary neck muscle contractions, making it “impossible” for her to center her head without shaking.
• Essential tremor: A neurological disorder resulting in rhythmic shaking, particularly affecting her ability to maintain a steady vocal tone.

“The tremor makes it impossible for me to make connections, muscularly and structurally,” Saliers explained. “As a result, I am completely physically unable to hold a straight tone the way I used to.”

“Unfortunately there’s no cure for these, so the honest fact is that my voice will not be what it was,”

The duo also announced that they will be joined on tour by Lucy Wainwright Roche, who will assist with some songs.

“I just hope that you can have some grace with my struggles for this particular touring year,” Saliers added. “We’re gonna work hard to make it good. And then whatever the future holds we’ll see.”