Lindsay Ell is bravely opening up about something she has been quietly battling for years. The 33-year-old reveals that she was recently diagnosed with an eating disorder, which she now admits she has been struggling with for the majority of her life.

“I got diagnosed with an eating disorder a few weeks ago, and have come to terms that it’s something I have been living in denial of for the better part of 20 years,” Ell says, as part of a lengthy post shared on social media, revealing that she first shared the news on the Off the Vine podcast. “I always told myself that an eating disorder would look like ‘that kind of body,’ and that there’s no way I could have one because I didn’t look like that. I told myself that the way I was living was fine because it was just part of my career…

“But it got to the point where it felt like it was taking over my life, and I no longer had control over what I ate or didn’t eat in the shadows,” she continues. “I got really good at pretending that everything was ok out in public but at home I was shriveling up. I know that eating disorders are flags to the need for deeper work, and I would love to share my journey as I go through my recovery. I have no idea of what that fully looks like, but I’m figuring it out day by day.”

Ell goes on to say that she is sharing the news to inspire others, who may also be struggling with something similar.

“I’m telling you all this because I know that it is the stories I hear that inspire me to be a better person,” Ell explains. “I hope in sharing this and my journey as I go along, it will inspire you to be honest with yourself – with what you’re feeling and what you’re going through. Regardless of what that may be. Sometimes it’s so easy to take care of everyone else but yourself. Hopefully you won’t need to live 20 years feeling something that you never deal with. So, this is where I’m at. With my hand on my heart… 🤍 And hopefully I can take you along the road as I learn.”

 

Ell, who was born in Canada, recently celebrated becoming a United States citizen, something she sees as both a privilege and a duty.

“I am so proud to be a dual citizen,” Ell told Everything Nash. “It’s been something that I’ve wanted to do. I live in Nashville, and I always will. I’ve been here for ten years. And so, it’s amazing to just be able to participate in the community, and vote and have a voice. I just think it’s so important for anyone to do that in their community. So I really feel grateful and honored that I can vote now.”

Ell will spend part of this year on the road with Shania Twain. Ell is serving as the opening act on Twain’s 2023 The Queen of Me Tour.

“It feels like a dream come true,” Ell said of the invitation. “I just haven’t looked up to another female artist, like the way I do Shania, to find somebody who really says what she means — she stands for so many important causes, and it’s hard to stand for things as a female artist. She rides that line between being sexy and saying what you want to say, and being classy at the same time, so effortlessly. She just does it like she’s like floating on a cloud. And so I’m just really honored to be able to open for her. She’s great. She’s iconic.”

The Queen of Me Tour kicks off on April 28 in Spokane, Washington. Find all of Ell’s music and upcoming shows at LindsayEll.com.

Listen to Ell’s Off the Vine episode here.