Lani Misalucha is not just making a comeback — she’s staging a triumphant return with ‘Still, Lani’, a one-night-only concert happening on August 21 at The Theatre at Solaire, marking her 40th year in the music industry.
Dubbed Asia’s Nightingale, Lani has long been admired for her soaring vocals, versatility, and emotional depth. From church choirs in Manila to headlining Las Vegas stages, her voice has crossed genres — and oceans. But behind the accolades lies a deeply personal story of resilience.
In 2020, Lani and her husband, Noli, were struck by bacterial meningitis, a life-threatening infection that left them both partially deaf, especially in the right ear. For Lani, a singer by calling and craft, the aftermath was devastating: dizziness, tinnitus, distorted hearing, and an uncertain future in music.
“For a while, hindi ko talaga nakayanan kumanta,” she recalled in a recent press conference. “Ears, and the vestibular disorder wherein you are consistently nahihilo as in dizzy like dizzy.”
But with time, therapy, and tremendous courage, she found her voice again — not quite the same, but no less powerful. “Now, we’re partially deaf sa right ear. It was really a difficult time for me because syempre naman, I’m a singer and then mahirap ‘yung pandinig,” she said. “Mahirap siya, pero what can we do? Magreklamo ka ba? Ito na yun, ito na yung binigay ng tadhana. Ayaw ko sabihin na binigay ito ng Panginoon Diyos, hindi. Nangyari ito eh, hindi naman sa magiging careless naming mag-asawa. Trial ito eh. Kasama ito sa buhay. So, it’s just a matter of accepting it.”
“Last April, I had several shows and realized my voice is still quite high. It has not changed for the past 20 years.”
Directed by Calvin Neria and accompanied by a 40-piece orchestra under the baton of Toma Cayabyab, ‘Still, Lani’ will revisit the hits that defined generations — ‘Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin’, ‘Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin’, ‘Tunay Na Mahal’ — alongside new anthems of hope like ‘Timeless My Love’ and ‘I Rise to the Top’.
Throughout her career, Lani has shared stages with legends — Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Brian McKnight — and even caught the attention of Celine Dion, who once watched her rehearse incognito in Las Vegas.
Her accomplishments earned her the title Best Singer in the Best of Las Vegas Poll, and even two U.S. cities declared Lani Misalucha Day in her honor.
Now 55, Lani says her greatest achievement isn’t the applause or awards — it’s finding her way back after nearly losing everything. “Acceptance is key,” she said. “At least buhay. Nakaka-function pa. Kahit papano.”
