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Jamie Foxx’s new Netflix special, What Had Happened Was…, shares the emotional story of his near-fatal medical emergency and how his daughter Anelise helped him through his darkest moments. Premiering Tuesday, Dec. 10, the special reveals Foxx suffered a brain bleed and stroke in April 2023 while filming in Atlanta.
Foxx opened up about his critical 15-day stay at Piedmont Hospital, where his condition was dire. “My vitals were out of control, and nothing was working to stabilize me. The doctors thought they would lose me,” he said. During this turbulent time, his 16-year-old daughter Anelise, whom he shares with ex Kristin Grannis, stepped in with an act of love that made all the difference. Sneaking into his hospital room with her guitar, Anelise played for her father. Foxx recalled, “When she started playing, my vitals calmed. The nurses couldn’t believe it. That’s when I realized God was in that guitar—it became my spiritual defibrillator.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Foxx brought Anelise on stage during the special, encouraging her to shine as she performed a heartfelt piece. Through tears, he thanked her for stepping up when all seemed lost. “You saved me,” he said. The father-daughter duo also performed a song together about his medical journey, with Foxx singing and rapping while Anelise played the guitar.
Foxx also paid tribute to his eldest daughter, Corinne, and sister, Deidra Dixon, for protecting his privacy during his recovery. “They held me down and made sure nobody saw me like that,” he said, adding with humor that Corinne joked about shielding him from becoming an online meme due to the effects of the stroke.
A particularly touching moment in the special reflected Foxx’s gratitude for surviving to fulfill milestones, including walking Corinne down the aisle at her September wedding. A photo from the wedding was displayed during the show, capturing the culmination of his recovery.
The special, filmed in October at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, just steps from the hospital that saved his life, is both a celebration of resilience and a heartfelt thank-you to the community and family who supported him. As Foxx said, “This is a story of faith, love, and the power of music and family to heal.”