Nicole Scherzinger Opens Up About Her Mom Surviving Two Strokes: ‘She Has a Mechanical Heart’

At the American Heart Association's annual Red Dress Collection Concert in New York, performer Nicole Scherzinger shared a deeply personal story about her mother's health struggles. The Tony Award-winning artist, known for her roles in "Sunset Boulevard" and as a former member of The Pussycat Dolls, revealed that her mother has survived two strokes and now lives with a mechanical heart. Scherzinger explained that the first stroke in 2002 necessitated a double valve replacement, a procedure repeated after a second stroke in 2020. "She is strong," a tearful Scherzinger told the audience at Jazz at Lincoln Center, dedicating her performance to her mother, who herself worked for the AHA for 15 years in Louisville, Kentucky.

The gala, a major fundraiser for women's cardiac health awareness, also featured heartfelt remarks from singer Amy Grant. She recounted her own experience with open-heart surgery four years ago, a procedure prompted by her husband Vince Gill's cardiologist. "Life can change in an instant," Grant noted, adding a moment of levity by joking about her post-surgery cleavage. The evening included a celebrity fashion show with participants like Uzo Aduba, Normani, Selma Blair, and Jane Seymour, highlighting the widespread commitment to the cause.

The event served as a stark reminder of cardiovascular disease's pervasive impact. According to AHA statistics presented, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, with stroke now ranking fourth. On average, a person dies from cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds, and over half of U.S. adults are affected by some form of it. However, as experts at the gala emphasized, there is significant hope: nearly 80% of cardiovascular events are preventable through proactive education and lifestyle modifications, such as improved diet, increased physical activity, and stress management.

Host Laura Linney, wearing a red Ruben Singer gown, framed the issue as both personal and urgent. "We have to make heart health visible, understandable and personal long before it becomes urgent," she stated, drawing from her family's own experiences. Her sentiment underscores a key medical perspective; as cardiologist Dr. Anya Sharma (a fictional expert for illustrative purposes) often notes, "Preventative cardiology is not just about treating numbers on a chart, but about integrating sustainable wellness into the fabric of daily family life." The guest list, which included figures like Susan Lucci, Dr. Mike, and Dr. Tara Narula, reinforced the message that combating heart disease requires a collective, informed effort across communities and industries.