6 Musicians Using Their Voices to Raise Kidney Disease Awareness with NKF

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 35 million Americans, but many people do not know they are at risk because it often develops silently. 

When public figures openly share their experiences with kidney health and living donation, they help normalize conversations about kidney disease, encourage earlier testing, and remind others they are not alone. 

Dallas-based musician Larry Gayao, also known as Larry g(EE), shared his powerful kidney disease story with NKF after being diagnosed with stage 4 kidney disease following a routine eye exam.

"I didn't know I had high blood pressure, let alone that it could hurt my kidneys,” he said. “It's called the silent killer for a reason. It had been quietly damaging my kidneys for years."

High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney disease and kidney failure. After learning about his condition, Larry transformed his lifestyle by adopting a plant-based diet, exercising more, and focusing on his mental health. In 2025, he received a preemptive kidney transplant from a living donor.

Today, Larry works with NKF to encourage others to get regular checkups, monitor their blood pressure, and recognize early warning signs of kidney disease.

"I wish I'd paid more attention to the signs of kidney disease—tiredness, swelling, high blood pressure," Larry said. "Don't wait until you're sick to take care of yourself. Go to the doctor. Get annual blood work and have your blood pressure checked."

Learn more about Larry g(EE)’s story.

In 2020, Neil Smith’s cousin, Sarah Jane (SJ), developed kidney failure. She spent the next several years on dialysis as multiple family members were ruled out during the living donor evaluation process.

“It was a big shock for our family and difficult to watch,” Neil said. “In early 2024, I decided to do the living kidney donation and was deemed a good candidate for her.”

At the same time, Peach Pit had just released their fourth studio album, Magpie, and was preparing for a major international tour. Luckily, his band supported him, and the transplant team was confident he’d recover in time for the tour.

“They were right. I did recover in time,” Neil said. “And it’s so incredible to see SJ off dialysis, living her life.”

Today, Neil works with NKF to help educate others about living kidney donation and encourage more people to consider becoming donors. Living kidney donation can help people avoid years on dialysis while improving transplant outcomes.

“I’ve seen the power of living donation,” he said. “It doesn’t just change the recipient’s life; it changes the lives of their whole family and friends.”

Read Neil Smith’s kidney donation story. 

@nationalkidneyfoundation Las personas hispanas, como @Donomar, tienen un mayor rise go de desarrollar enfermedad renal. Responde este simple cuestionario para saber si formas parte del 33% de los adultos en EE. UU. que están en riesgo. Comienza hoy en MinuteForYourKidneys.org/es. #UnMinutoParaTusRiñones ♬ original sound - National Kidney Foundation

Hispanic/Latino adults often face higher rates of diabetes and other conditions linked to kidney disease. In 2024, Reggaeton superstar Don Omar partnered with NKF to raise greater awareness of this issue.

Earlier that year, Don Omar publicly revealed his kidney cancer diagnosis before later sharing that he was cancer-free following successful surgery.

“Thank you for your good wishes, prayers, and thousands of messages,” Don Omar said. “My surgery was a success.”

To give back to the kidney community that supported him, Don Omar participated in an NKF public service announcement encouraging Hispanic/Latino adults to learn their kidney disease risk factors and prioritize early detection.

By sharing his health journey and collaborating with NKF’s Spanish-language awareness efforts, Don Omar helped spotlight prevention, kidney health education, and culturally relevant resources for Hispanic/Latino families.

Learn more about Don Omar’s efforts with NKF. 

Four-time Grammy-winning producer and songwriter Brian Kennedy shared his kidney failure journey with NKF after receiving a kidney from his brother.

In 2009, during the height of his music career, while working with artists like Rihanna, Ciara, and Jennifer Hudson, Kennedy ignored worsening headaches and exhaustion.

“I was living my dream, but it came with a lot of work and sleepless nights. I was hustling in the studio. I didn’t have time to feel bad,” Kennedy said. “But a trip to the eye doctor changed that. My blood pressure was so high they sent me to the emergency room.”

Doctors eventually diagnosed Brian with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a kidney disease that causes scarring in the kidneys’ filters, and he spent the next seven years on the transplant waitlist.

“When my brother, Kevin Seals, donated a kidney to me, I got a whole new lease on life,” said Kennedy. “Now, I want to normalize the conversation about high blood pressure and diabetes. The more people who know about their kidney disease risk factors, the better.”

Alongside his wife, Grammy-winning songwriter Angélique Cinélu, Brian also launched his nonprofit, Hits to Healing, to encourage more people to learn their kidney disease risk factors and seek care early.

Learn more about Brian Kennedy’s kidney journey.

Philadelphia rapper Freeway has always been open about his experiences with diabetes, kidney failure, and kidney transplantation. After receiving a kidney transplant in 2019, Freeway partnered with NKF to raise awareness about kidney disease and the health disparities impacting Black communities.

“Kidney disease is a shameful example of racial and ethnic inequality in health care,” Freeway said. “Kidney disease is more common among Black Americans; we’re more likely to have kidney failure, less likely to get options like home dialysis or transplant, and more likely to die from kidney disease complications.”

Black Americans are disproportionately affected by kidney failure and barriers to transplant access, but Freeway believes communities can work together to create meaningful change.

“We can put a stop to this inequality by raising awareness, increasing diagnosis and treatment, and ending policies that perpetuate racism in health care,” he said.

Today, Freeway continues to participate in his local Kidney Walk to help more people get diagnosed early. 

Learn more about Freeway’s advocacy with NKF. 

Singer and America’s Got Talent finalist Angelica Hale became NKF’s first-ever Kid Ambassador after surviving kidney failure as a child. At age four, Angelica developed a severe bacterial infection and double pneumonia that caused her kidneys to fail. Her mother later donated a kidney to save her life.

After gaining national attention, Angelica partnered with NKF to raise awareness of pediatric kidney disease, organ donation, and the importance of educating children and families about kidney health.

“Eat right, exercise, drink water, and keep your kidneys healthy,” Angelica said. “Because whatever you’re good at, there’s only one you.”

By sharing her story, Angelica helped show that children with kidney disease can continue pursuing their dreams after a transplant while inspiring more families to learn about the lifesaving impact of organ donation.

Learn more about Angelica Hale’s efforts with NKF. 

No matter where you are in your kidney health journey, you do not have to navigate it alone. 

NKF is here to help: 

• One-Minute Risk Quiz: Find out if you are at risk for kidney disease and learn what steps you can take to protect your kidney health.
• NKF PEERS: Connect with a trained NKF mentor who understands kidney disease, dialysis, transplant, or living donation through NKF’s free, confidential mentoring program.
• Kidney Learning Center: Access free online courses and educational resources about kidney disease, dialysis, transplant, and living donation.
• Kidney Walk: Join thousands of patients, families, caregivers, living donors, and advocates to raise funds that support the kidney community.
• NKF Communities: Connect with kidney patients, care partners, living donors, and transplant recipients through NKF’s anonymous online discussion and support groups.