Phil Collins Recovering from Knee Surgery in Hospital amid Hospice Care Speculation, Rep Confirms

A representative for Phil Collins has denied he’s recently been receiving hospice care amid online speculation.

On Saturday, July 26, the spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE that the Genesis musician’s recent hospitalization was not due to any terminal illness and that rumors of him being in hospice are “completely incorrect.”

The rep also clarified that Collins, 73, is currently in the hospital, but is recovering from knee surgery.

TMZ was the first to report the news.

In February, Collins opened up about his health issues — and how they have affected his desire to play music — to MOJO magazine.

He told the publication that while he’s thought about venturing into his studio to potentially make some new music, his condition has stopped him.

“I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I’m not hungry for it anymore,” Collins said at the time. “The thing is, I’ve been sick. I mean very sick.”

In 2022, the “In the Air Tonight” artist retired from playing the drums after his health woes made it difficult for him to pick up a drumstick.

That year, Genesis toured for a final time.

In the documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First, which was released in December 2024, Collins discussed his condition further, revealing how difficult it was for him to not be able to play.

“It’s still kind of sinking in a bit,” he said in the documentary, which was filmed in October 2022. “I’ve spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock.”

After playing the instrument since he was 5 years old, Collins noted that it had “taken its toll on my hands, legs.”

The eight-time Grammy winner then noted that if he can’t do what he did as well anymore, he’d “rather relax and not do anything.”

“If I wake up one day and I can hold a pair of drumsticks, then I’ll have a crack at it. But I just feel like I’ve used up my air miles,” said Collins.

Though he didn’t elaborate further on his condition, a post shared to his Facebook in 2017 said he suffers from drop foot “as a result of a back operation which makes it difficult to walk.”