Missy Elliott opened up about her difficult battle with Graves’ Disease as she prepares for her first-ever headlining tour.

During a recent interview with PEOPLE, the “Get Your Freak On” hitmaker revealed that the auto-immune disorder led to severe weight loss and a period of depression. “Every day I wake, I’m blessed to be here and in good health,” she said. “I’m feeling so much better now. That was a run. Every now and then you get a little ache in the leg or the knee, but outside of that, I feel good.”

In April 2024, the Virginia native announced that her “Out of This World—The Missy Elliott Experience” tour would kick off on July 4. Her close friends and longtime collaborators Ciara, Busta Rhymes, and Timbaland will join her on the road.

“Missy has always been one of my greatest inspirations and like a big sister to me," Ciara said in a statement to the publication. "She is the definition of a true artist. She has always raised the bar to the highest level, and I feel so blessed that we have been able to share some of our biggest hits together.”

"I have no doubt we are going to give the fans an out of this world experience," the “How We Roll” singer added.