Jackie Lee Opens Up About His Battle with Cancer in ‘Long Year’ Video

When Jackie Lee discovered he had signs of cancer less than two years after losing his mom to the disease, his world crumbled apart.

The country singer knew he could go one of two ways: fall into a downward spiral of hopelessness over the diagnosis or fight it head on with faith and family on his side. Lee chose the latter, and immediately got connected with the right doctors and the healthy treatments.

Thankfully, his family stood behind him throughout the entire healing process and the singer even admitted that his little sister didn’t show one ounce of fear, which lent him even more strength throughout his fight.

“She didn’t shed one tear,” Lee remembered about his sister’s reaction in an interview with People. “She was like, ‘The doctors say you’re gonna be okay?’ I was like, “Yeah.’ She goes, ‘All right.’ My brother and dad are over there bawling their eyes out, and she’s like a rock.”

Another element on Lee’s side was his love for music, which prompted him to become vulnerable during the writing session of “Long Year.” He let everything go in the lyrics, inspired by his and his mother’s stories, and hopes the fans recognize that Lee remains just as tough now as he was going through the hardships.

“I don’t feel like anything’s missing — other than the obvious,” Lee admitted with a smile. “As far as my life goes, I feel like me. I feel normal. I feel like I can carry on. I’m just super thankful.”

Honestly I’ve had deep moral confliction about sharing this very private and personal story, but my family and team have encouraged me so much in the last few weeks to share this and I am doing so in hopes that it may encourage even just one person to keep going. Life isn’t fair and quite frankly it just sucks sometimes. God never promised it wouldn’t suck but he did promise he would be faithful (Deuteronomy 31:8). I’m so thankful I have a mom and a dad that not only taught me this but lived it in front of me. Life is hella short and I just wanna make as much as I can of the time I have here. The love I have felt today has been incredible. Today I am just very thankful. The video is available everywhere now. Check it on on @vevo.

A post shared by Jackie Lee (@jackieleemusic) on May 21, 2018 at 10:16am PDT

Documenting the traumatic journey with an optimistic twist, Lee put his life struggles out there in the “Long Year” video in hopes that people everywhere can relate to the highs and lows that life throws out there. As for now, Lee is cancer-free and happy to look back on the experience with great support and a sense of courage.

“I hope that people know it’s coming from a real place, real emotion. No matter what you’re going through, you’re going to get through it,” he said of the battles people face as well as his own.

Listeners can stream “Long Year” on Spotify now.