We have all sung his songs; he is a legend of music; yet just now, his illness and pain have crushed him.

For many observers, the combination of declining health and personal turmoil made the later years of Collins’ life especially difficult. Yet friends, family, and longtime fans have continued to admire the dignity with which he has confronted those challenges. Rather than attempting to hide his physical limitations, Collins has spoken honestly about the realities of aging, chronic pain, and the emotional difficulty of letting go of abilities that once seemed inseparable from who he was.