Country singer Gabby Mooney is sharing a powerful story of survival after a 2023 medical emergency that she says left her clinically dead for a short time. In a new episode of Hulu’s IMPACT x Nightline titled “Back From The Dead,” Mooney describes flatlining at a hospital, feeling an intense sense of peace, and believing she was told it was “not yet” her time to die.
A Painful Drive Home That Turned Into a Crisis
Mooney’s ordeal began in early 2023 while she was driving from Nashville to her family home in Arkansas. She developed a severe headache that made it hard to see the road, but she pushed on because she thought she would feel better once she was in her own bed.
After arriving home, her condition worsened through the night. Mooney says her mother woke her up and insisted she needed to go to the hospital. At first, Mooney refused, but she soon began having seizures.
Tornado Weather, Private Ambulance, and Multiple Seizures
The situation became even more dangerous because of severe weather. Mooney recalled that it was “tornado weather,” so regular ambulances were not running. Her parents called a private ambulance company and arranged to meet them at a Baptist church a few miles away to get her to the emergency room faster.
During the ride, Mooney says she was having multiple seizures. By the time she reached the hospital, her condition was critical.
“I Died”: Flatlining During Intubation
At the hospital, doctors tried to intubate Mooney to help her breathe. She says that during that process, her vital signs crashed and she flatlined. In her own words: “I died.”
Mooney describes the moment as a near-death experience with a strong spiritual element. She says she felt her spirit rising and sensed the presence of Jesus. In her account, she received a clear message: “not yet.”
A Peaceful Feeling She Didn’t Want to Leave
Despite the medical crisis, Mooney says the experience was not frightening. She calls it “the most peaceful, incredible feeling” she had ever felt in her life. So powerful was that peace that she admits, “I didn’t want to come back.”
She believes the experience confirmed that it was not her time to die and that she was being sent back for a reason. For Mooney, the moment strengthened her faith and gave her a new perspective on life.
Medical Diagnosis: Brain Cyst and Hydrocephalus
After the emergency, Mooney learned more about what had caused her collapse. Reports state she was diagnosed with a brain cyst and hydrocephalus, a condition where fluid builds up in the brain. The pressure from these issues put extreme strain on her body and contributed to her heart stopping.
Mooney required emergency brain surgery to relieve the pressure. The recovery was long and difficult. She has spoken about living with lasting effects, including facial paralysis on one side and other ongoing health challenges.
Sharing Her Story on “Back From The Dead”
Mooney opened up about the entire experience in an interview with ABC’s Nightline correspondent Ashan Singh for the IMPACT x Nightline episode “Back From The Dead,” now streaming on Hulu and Disney+. The episode follows people who survived brush-with-death moments and explores how those events changed their lives.
In the interview, Mooney walks through the timeline from the painful drive home to the seizures, the private ambulance ride, and the moment she flatlined. She also explains how the spiritual side of the experience shaped her faith and her music.
Family Ties and Music Career
Gabby Mooney, whose full name is Gabrielle Mooney, is the sister of Shay Mooney, one half of the Grammy-winning country duo Dan + Shay. She has been building her own career as a country singer and songwriter, performing in Nashville and releasing original music.
The near-death experience came as she was working to establish herself in the industry. Since her recovery, she has continued to create music and share her story as part of her message of hope and resilience.
Why Her Story Resonates
Mooney’s account touches on themes that many people find deeply moving:
- Sudden health crisis: A bad headache turning into a life-or-death situation.
- Family effort: Parents arranging a private ambulance in dangerous weather to save her life.
- Spiritual encounter: A calm, peaceful feeling and a sense of being told “not yet.”
- Hard recovery: Living with lasting effects like facial paralysis while rebuilding her life and career.
For fans of country music and inspirational stories, Mooney’s journey offers a raw look at how quickly life can change and how faith can play a role in healing.
Where to Watch the Interview
The episode featuring Gabby Mooney is part of IMPACT x Nightline: Back From The Dead, available on Hulu and Disney+. Viewers can hear her full account in her own words, including her description of flatlining, the spiritual moment she experienced, and her long road to recovery.
Mooney’s story is a reminder that behind the headlines about celebrity health scares are real people facing fear, uncertainty, and, in some cases, a second chance at life.
