The Celebrities Whose Health We're Most Worried About Going Into 2026

2025 has welcomed the conversation of health and medicine to headlines time and time again. Aside from the ongoing discussion about the healthcare system within the government, the media has also extensively covered celebrity health. And with social media creating a platform for stars to become advocates for their own health, people have become more informed about — and thus, more invested in — the well-being of the public figures they keep tabs on. 

That said, medical scares are indiscriminate. Health emergencies look upon people with an equal eye, and even celebrities can become ill and experience health-related ebbs and flows. Furthermore, as many industry stalwarts and prominent political figures continue to age, they become increasingly at risk of certain diseases.

(Read about what happens to your risk of high blood pressure when you turn 50.)

As the year ends, here are some of the well-known entertainers and politicians who have been featured in the news because of their health.

Theories about President Donald Trump's health took over the media during the first year of his second term — which is unsurprising, considering how his 2025 seemed to involve numerous trips to the doctor, visible physical changes, and mysterious health exams. 

In February, a bruise was photographed on the president's hand, which was when speculation about his health saw its first uptick. Ten months later, the bruise was spotted on Trump's hand once again, with little to no explanation. Additionally, in July — five months after the bruise was first spotted – Trump was filmed in the White House with swollen ankles (later diagnosed as chronic venous insufficiency). And at the White House's September 11 event, Trump was photographed with what seemed to be a drooping face. 

Trump's own revelations have also sparked conversations about his health. Telling reporters that he had an MRI as part of his annual physical exam, journalists immediately asked about the medical screening, noting that an MRI isn't typically a part of a regular checkup. More questions were raised when he talked about taking an IQ test that, based on his description, may have been a dementia diagnosis exam. 

(These are some warning signs that Donald Trump's health may be on the decline.)

In 2025, Dick Van Dyke turned 100 years old. Having overcome alcoholism and a cigarette addiction, the actor has maintained a healthy mindset, revealing that he's still an avid gym-goer. However, as his age climbed to triple digits, concerns about Van Dyke's health started to arise. 

Despite his active lifestyle, Van Dyke has been experiencing health difficulties. In an essay for The Sunday Times, he wrote: "I get invites to events or offers for gigs in New York or Chicago, but that kind of travel takes so much out of me that I have to say no. Almost all of my visiting with folks has to happen at my house." In his essay, the "Mary Poppins" actor also shared that he had developed feet problems, stiffness, soreness, and hearing problems. Moreover, in recent years, the actor has been seen using a cane and a wheelchair to assist him with mobility.

In May 2025, a spokesperson announced that former president Joe Biden had been diagnosed with an "aggressive" cancer that had spread to his bones. The former president took to X to briefly discuss the news. "Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support." Though much of Biden's health has been kept private, more information came out later in 2025.

In October 2025, Biden's office gave an update on his condition and treatment. "As part of a treatment plan for prostate cancer, President Biden is currently undergoing radiation therapy and hormone treatment" (via PBS). That same month, Biden's daughter Ashley shared via Instagram that her father had completed his radiation treatment therapy. Updates about Biden's health remain mostly private, but with the description of his diagnosis and his mature age, the new year brings definite concerns for the politician.

In early 2022, "Die Hard" star Bruce Willis was diagnosed with aphasia, a brain disease that affects the individual's speech and language processing . As a result, Willis retired from acting. Some months later, he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a life-threatening condition. (These celebrities were diagnosed with life-threatening diseases.)

Updates about Willis' health have come from his close family, particularly his wife, Emma Heming Willis. Heming Willis took on the role of caregiver when her husband was first diagnosed, but in August 2025, she revealed that the actor had been moved into a special care facility. The following month, Heming Willis shared the news in her speech at the End Well 2025 Conference. Heming Willis discussed her husband's condition and the decision to have him moved into a care facility, calling it "the best decision for [their] family" (via The Independent).

In a December 2025 interview with Today, Heming Willis said that despite requiring round-the-clock care, the retired actor is "surrounded by love and care" and "is doing really well."

In September 2025, Dolly Parton took to Instagram to talk about a small medical emergency. As detailed in the "Jolene" singer's post, the performer had been dealing with medical concerns for some time before having to take the step to make the information public. Though she did not specify which procedure needed to be done, Parton did say that her doctors had suggested she undergo a few surgeries that would require a recovery period. This resulted in Parton's postponement of her Las Vegas shows from December 2025 to September 2026 — a full nine months.

Two months later, Parton missed out on an award ceremony for her Nashville amusement park, Dollywood. At the ceremony, Parton appeared via video and apologized for her absence, explaining that she was still facing some health complications following a kidney stone that caused an infection. However, a note of reassurance came from Parton's goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, who told Entertainment Tonight, "The show must go on. She's just excited to get back to work."