Today’s chart-topping artists are coming upon a less talked- about transformation not measured by album sales or social media likes, but by biology. Midlife hormonal changes, often overlooked in the entertainment industry, can significantly impact health, performance, and mental well-being.
This week’s Billboard 200 albums chart for the week ending April 26, 2025, is led by artists all under the age of 40, with Lady Gaga, 39, as the oldest among the top 10. At 23, Ken Carson holds the No. 1 spot, born on April 11, 2001. Others on the list, like Playboi Carti (28), Bad Bunny (31), and Ariana Grande (31), are still in their physical primes. But time, as ever, moves forward—and the transition into midlife will arrive sooner than many fans realize.
Rappers Kendrick Lamar (37) and Drake (38), whose ongoing lyrical feud has captivated the industry, are inching toward what medical professionals call the climacteric season—a phase of life when fertility and hormonal levels begin to decline, bringing a cascade of potential emotional and physical changes. Some of the hottest past rivals like Jay-Z and Nas, Lil Kim and Foxy Brown, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer, Dipset and the Lox have buried their beef and switched their liquor bottles for cups of green juices. Styles P off the Lox has founded a wellness hub “Juices For Life” and is promoting healthy eating. He described having a “bad attitude” and that made him decide to replace fast foods with healthier options.
The Shift in Women: Perimenopause and Its Public Reckoning
Actress Tracee Ellis Ross, now 52, has spoken candidly about the toll of perimenopause. “It’s really frying my brain,” she said, admitting to feelings of shame but also declaring she feels “the sexiest she has ever been.”
For women, perimenopause—the transition leading to menopause—can start as early as the late 30s or early 40s. Estrogen levels fluctuate, triggering symptoms such as mood swings, sleep disturbances, hot flashes, and cognitive fog.
Beyoncé, 43, while not speaking directly about perimenopause, has said that she is putting her health first. In a 2024 interview with GQ, the global superstar opened up about the impact of her clean-eating lifestyle following her 56-show Renaissance World Tour. She revealed that she’s given up meat—except for turkey—and is prioritizing supplements and nutrition as part of her self-care journey.
“I’ve been trying to focus on my health, taking my supplements, and eating very clean. I’ve given up meat, except for turkey, this summer,” she shared.
While she still aims to work out regularly, Beyoncé admitted that nutrition comes first: “I’m trying to muster the strength to work out, but I just can’t do it today. Maybe tomorrow.”
Reflecting on her earlier shift to a plant-based diet in 2015, she noted how quickly she noticed positive changes: “At first it’s the little things I noticed: I had more energy… a noticeable glow to my skin without having to deprive myself of carbs. I even slept better.”
“In the past, I spent too much time on diets, with the misconception that self-care meant exercising and being overly conscious of my body,” she said. “My health, the way I feel when I wake up in the morning, my peace of mind, the number of times I smile, what I’m feeding my mind and my body—those are the things that I’ve been focusing on.”
Gwyneth Paltrow, 46, likened her experience to “a roller coaster,” citing sudden mood changes and physical symptoms like excessive sweating. She’s advocated for open conversations to break the stigma around menopause, a call echoed by a growing number of public figures.
Despite these efforts, the music industry has yet to fully grapple with how aging, especially among women, affects artistry, visibility, and productivity. As performers age, the double standards persist—male artists often praised for aging gracefully while their female counterparts are pressured to remain perpetually youthful.
The Male Mirror: Andropause and Silent Struggles
Less discussed but equally impactful is andropause, the gradual decline in testosterone that affects many men starting in their late 40s or 50s. Symptoms may include fatigue, irritability, low libido, thinning hair, and even reduced bone density.
Singer Robbie Williams, nearing 50, has called it “manopause,” describing his battle with lethargy and waning motivation.
Dancehall legend Vybz Kartel, 49, offered a rare moment of vulnerability. “Why you have to be a G like all the time?” he asked in a recent conversation on Drink Champs. “Why can’t I come to you, if you are my bredrin… I am having problems with my wife because we have issues surrounding sex. I can only pop off once per night. Why can’t I talk to you and you make me feel comfortable talking about it?”
“In Jamaica, even if a man has low testosterone, most times, he will start taking “strong back” things on the black market before going to a doctor or doing therapy. It is not often they come in with issues of andropause,” said one Jamaican specialist doctor who requested anonymity. “It’s usually the women who will come in with hot flashes in their late 40s and early 50s to begin some type of treatment.”
An estimated five million men in the United States are affected by andropause according to the Cleveland Clinic Journal. Contributing factors include poor diet, stress, depression, sleep disorders, and medications such as opioids and corticosteroids. Diagnosis is multifaceted, involving physical exams, mental health assessments, and hormone blood panels.
Medical experts caution that while not life-threatening, untreated andropause can severely impact quality of life, with links to obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer.
Treatment often involves Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), which can help restore libido, muscle mass, bone strength, and memory. However, TRT is not without risks—it can lead to infertility and requires regular monitoring according to Harvard Health Publishing. It is administered in various forms: gels, patches, injections, oral medications, nasal sprays, or subcutaneous pellets.
Even the brightest stars undergo change and sometimes, the most powerful performance is simply telling the truth.
