Phil Collins stated earlier in 2025 that he has not been doing well physically, but he didn't imply he was close to death. The problem is that recently, music fans have gotten accustomed to bracing ourselves for breaking news that breaks our hearts. Many were taken aback by the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, for instance.
Collins's issue stems more from a spinal injury in 2007 and years of drumming that have affected his nerves. He can no longer hold drumsticks, and he has issues walking. The problem has become so bad that Collins no longer performs.
But he's still with us. This is opposed to recent rumors that Collins was in hospice. Many times, that means a person's family is preparing for the end. The former Genesis frontman, however, wasn't in hospice. Instead, he was in the hospital.
Phil Collins was not in hospice, but instead was having knee surgery in the hospital
The reason, according to TMZ, was that the drummer was simply having knee surgery. His family, including his daughter, actress Lily Collins, appeared to be so underwhelmed by the procedure that no one posted about it on social media. There was no "hopes and prayers," or any of that silliness. Instead, silence.
Why Collins had knee surgery is unknown. Perhaps, there is an ongoing issue with his nerve damage, and the surgery was supposed to help with that. Phil Collins is 71 years old, though, and he might have injured the knee long ago, and now is the time to remedy the issue. Who knows?
The fact remains, however, that social media was ablaze with false rumors that Collins was in hospice, and he wasn't. Social media can be an interesting place, and one where people meet when they otherwise wouldn't. But it can also be a toxic environment full of misinformation that people easily believe.
Thankfully, Phil Collins appears relatively OK. He might never play live music again, but he also might have many years left to live his life. The quick jump to the opposite is kind of creepy, and Collins (and everyone else in his situation) deserves better.