HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 20: Christopher “Kid” Reid attends the Los Angeles premiere of Columbia Pictures’ “Clika” at TCL Chinese Theatre on January 20, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

Christopher “Kid” Reid is stepping back into the spotlight with a story bigger than any chart run. The Kid N’ Play legend revealed he recently underwent a heart transplant, opening up for the first time during an emotional appearance on Good Morning America.

Reid, one half of the iconic duo that helped define hip-hop culture in the late ’80s and early ’90s, spoke with Michael Strahan about the health crisis that nearly cost him his life. Doctors diagnosed him with congestive heart failure after an emergency room visit last July.

At first, the signs felt familiar. Fatigue crept in. Breathing became harder. Reid assumed it was age catching up after decades of touring and performing.


“You kind of chalk it up to getting older,” he said. “The road is harsh.”

By last summer, the symptoms hit harder. Reid went to the hospital, where doctors confirmed heart failure and started treatment. Three weeks later, during a follow-up, his cardiologist saw alarming changes.

Dr. Erika Jones noticed swelling had returned fast. She said that reaction rarely happens once treatment begins. Blood work followed. The results showed Reid’s heart was failing and stressing other organs.

Christopher “Kid” Reid (Kid N’ Play) Reveals Heart Transplant

Plans shifted instantly. Reid skipped a scheduled performance and returned to the hospital. Doctors rushed him to intensive care. The verdict was blunt. A heart transplant was his only option.

Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Laura Dichiacchio described the situation as life or death. Reid was placed on the transplant list under urgent status.

Eight days later, the phone rang. A donor heart was ready. Reid arrived the next evening. Seven hours after surgery began, he woke up with a new heart.

Through it all, doctors said Reid stayed calm and grounded. Now, gratitude drives him. “This is a beautiful life,” Reid said. “I want to be around for it.”

He hopes his story reaches the culture, especially communities of color. Reid urged people not to ignore warning signs. “We don’t go because we fear bad news,” he said. “We stay hustling. You might not get over it.”

Reid calls his recovery a second chance with purpose. Protect your health, he says. Listen early. Stay here.