Retired singer-songwriter Huey Lewis has revealed that he can no longer listen to or enjoy music due to worsening Meniere's disease, a chronic inner ear disorder.
During a July 7, 2026 episode of the podcast "Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum," the former frontman of Huey Lewis and the News opened up about his decades-long battle with hearing loss.
Lewis, diagnosed with the condition in the mid-1990s, explained that his hearing collapsed completely eight and a half years ago, forcing the band to cancel a 2018 tour.
Loss of a Lifelong Passion
"At a certain point, you gotta face the music… I can't hear music," Lewis stated, as reported by PEOPLE.
"Music is not part of my life anymore, which is a hard pill to swallow."
The rock icon detailed how the loss of his primary passion has radically altered his daily life.
He lost hearing in his right ear in the early 1990s and relied on his left ear for decades before his hearing deteriorated entirely.
To manage the condition, which causes fluid accumulation, ringing, congestion, and constant mild dizziness, Lewis now uses a cochlear implant on one side and a hearing aid on the other.
"Music used to be so much fun," said Lewis. "[But] it ends up being frustrating for me when I can't enjoy it.
I can't feel the warmth, you know?"
The restriction prevents him from playing his extensive collection of old big band and New Orleans jazz music during dinner parties.
He expressed envy toward former bandmates like bassist John Pierce, who joined Toto in 2020 and continues to perform live.
"I gotta say, God, I'd like to do that," revealed Lewis. "So there are pangs.
And I can't enjoy music."
The California-native began his career with the 1970s band Clover before achieving massive commercial success with Huey Lewis and the News, scoring hits like the chart-topping "The Power of Love."
In February 2025, Lewis was inducted into the People's Music Hall of Fame.
Despite the profound loss, Lewis, who currently relies completely on assistive devices to hear voices, emphasizes maintaining a positive mindset by focusing on alternative hobbies like fishing.
"I miss a show once in a while, I miss the camaraderie of the fellows and the circus-like thing that it is, but man, I've been fishing so many great places and had so many great experiences.
I gotta kinda look at the positive," added Lewis.
The severe progression of the illness means the artist faces total deafness without technical intervention. "Now I'm deaf basically without the technology involved," explained Lewis.
The distortion caused by the implant leaves the musician frustrated when attempting to engage with songs.
"It just ends up being frustrating for me when I can't enjoy it," said Lewis. "I can't feel the warmth."
