ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Indigo Girls singer Emily Saliers announced in an Instagram video posted Friday with bandmate Amy Ray that she has been diagnosed with two incurable movement disorders: cervical dystonia with torticollis and essential tremor. Saliers, one-half of the Atlanta folk duo, said the conditions have altered her voice ahead of a months-long tour.

Cervical dystonia with torticollis causes involuntary muscle contractions in the neck, while essential tremor causes involuntary shakes and movements in the jaw, throat, and diaphragm. Saliers said she now has a vibrato in her singing as a result of the disorders.

"Unfortunately, there is no cure for these, so the honest fact is that my voice will not be what it was," she said in the video. "That's really hard for me."

She said she is using therapeutic massage, physical therapy, acupuncture, and Botox shots to mitigate the disorders, and is working with a vocal coach who specializes in these types of conditions.

The Indigo Girls are set to begin a months-long tour that includes a free concert in Decatur, Georgia as part of the FIFA 2026 World Cup events. The duo plans to add other singers and use digital tools to improve how the songs sound on tour.

Fans and other artists, including Brandi Carlile, Sara Bareilles, and Chely Wright, posted supportive comments after the announcement. "What you offer the world is beyond bodies. Thank you for sharing whatever you have to share. It will be received with so much love and gratitude," Bareilles wrote.

Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile also responded online. "This is why these two have been my heroes and the only reason I ever picked up a guitar," Carlile wrote. "Being an @indigogirls fan is a life-long privilege."