Key Takeaways
Industry Buzz
"When your facial nerve doesn't work, half of your face doesn't work, and it's almost like a stroke... I'm glad that [Lil Nas X] brought awareness to this condition." — Betsy Grunch, MD, neurosurgeon
"The easiest way to tell the difference is to have the patient blink really rapidly because [with Bell's palsy] one side is going to be fluttering away and the other side is not going to be doing a very good job." — J. Mack Slaughter, MD, emergency medicine physician
In mid-April 2025, Grammy-winning artist Lil Nas X (Montero Lamar Hill) revealed via Instagram that he was experiencing partial facial paralysis on the right side of his face.
In a video from his hospital bed, he demonstrated his inability to fully smile or move that side of his face, expressing disbelief and frustration.
Related: George Clooney, 4 other celebrities share their Bell’s palsy experiencesDoctors' speculations
While Lil Nas X has not publicly confirmed a diagnosis, medical experts have speculated that he may have Bell's palsy—a condition that causes sudden, temporary weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles. []
Betsy Grunch, MD, a board-certified neurosurgeon, suggested that his symptoms align with Bell's palsy. Similarly, J. Mack Slaughter, MD, an emergency medicine physician, noted the characteristic facial droop associated with the condition.
Bell's palsy is often linked to viral infections and typically affects one side of the face. Symptoms can include facial drooping, difficulty making facial expressions, and trouble closing the eye on the affected side. []
Differentiating between 2 conditions
Distinguishing between Bell's palsy and a stroke is crucial, as both can present with facial drooping. However, strokes often involve additional symptoms such as arm weakness, speech difficulties, and vision problems. Bell's palsy, in contrast, usually affects only the facial muscles.
"When your facial nerve doesn't work, half of your face doesn't work, and it's almost like a stroke," Dr. Grunch says. "A stroke can also cause facial weakness, but it has to do with where the lesion is located. A stroke happens when the lesion of the facial nerve in the brain and a peripheral facial nerve palsy happens when the actual nerve outside of the brain is swollen."
The key to telling the difference between Bell's palsy and a stroke, according to Dr. Slaughter: When it's a stroke, the person's face is drooping but they can raise both sides of their eyebrows.
"The easiest way to tell the difference is to have the patient blink really rapidly because [with Bell's palsy] one side is going to be fluttering away and the other side is not going to be doing a very good job," Dr. Slaughter says.
Despite the health scare, Lil Nas X has maintained a positive and lighthearted attitude on social media. He informed fans that his condition was already improving, noting that although his right eye remained uncooperative, his ability to close both eyes had returned, and his smile was also improving. []
Most people with Bell's palsy recover fully within weeks to months, sometimes with the aid of medications like corticosteroids or antiviral drugs. []
As of now, Lil Nas X has not disclosed a specific diagnosis. However, his ongoing recovery and optimistic updates suggest a favorable prognosis.
Related: This simple daily habit can significantly lower stroke risk