CNN) -- Singer Natalie Cole told CNN's Larry King she is searching for a kidney after an illness caused both of her kidneys to fail.


Singer Natalie Cole continues to tour, despite being on dialysis three times a week.

Before she finished telling King Tuesday night about her battles with drugs, illnesses and her search for a kidney, dozens of e-mails flooded the CNN studio.

They were all offers from people saying they would get tested to see whether their kidney could be donated.

King handed a thick stack of paper to Cole.

"These are all e-mails from dozens -- dozens of people offering to be tested to see if they can match, who want to give you a kidney," King said.

Cole stared at the papers for a moment.

"There are some great human beings out there. That's all I can say," Cole said. Watch Natalie Cole's interview with Larry King »

"I'm on a very long list, which is why we are looking to donors," said Cole, the daughter of legendary crooner Nat King Cole.

Cole said her kidney troubles date back to February 2008 when she was diagnosed with hepatitis C. Cole said she attributes the hepatitis C from her well-publicized struggles to stop using cocaine and heroin. Cole said she has been sober for some time now after two stints in a rehabilitation clinic.



Cole said she underwent chemotherapy in an aggressive way to fight the virus. Within four months of getting chemotherapy, both of Cole's kidneys failed.

"I couldn't breathe. I -- I went into -- literally, my kidneys stopped functioning. They stopped, you know, processing the fluid that was starting to build up in my body."

Since then, Cole has been on dialysis three days a week and has been searching for a kidney, she told King in one of the first public interviews about the issue.

Cole won six Grammy awards for her 1991 critically acclaimed album "Unforgettable ... With Love ," a jazzy tribute to her father. She won a Grammy this year for her new album "Still Unforgettable" and another Grammy for her work on another album.


Cole said that she has still been able to tour this year even with her kidney ailment.

"I have been on dialysis in Istanbul, Milan, Indonesia, Manila, London. It's -- it's amazing," Cole said.

I feel for her, love her music, but aren't there millions of others needing organs as well. Not sure if her case happens to be more dire than the rest.

Yes some right here on mingle!!!

yep..(including me) so does this mean i should call in to larry king and have him advertize i need a kidney

she can get in line with the rest of us


but it is a shame she has to go through it. dialysis sucks and I feel for anyone who has to endure it

No...But I will push to get my friends and family to become organ donors...Its the right thing to do! Theres another person on here I consider a cyber friend who needs one too.. I will do my part and hope others will too...

Over fifty years ago, my mother worked in a hospital in Chicago while Nat's mother was a patient. I can't remember what Mom said her ailment was, but Nat and Maria frequently came in to visit his mother (not sure if Natalie had been born yet -- if so, she was very young). My mom saw him several times there.

Should she be given special priviledges because she's well known? Should she not be on the list just like everyone else? unless of course if her case is more severe than others (not sure if rated as other ailments needing transplants)

Wish her and anyone with this or other ailments luck!

I was being kinda facetious. actually if you have someone that is a willing donor then the list is irrelevant

my dad offered me one of his kidneys but I told him no thanks. His are too full of beer. So I'm just waiting patiently on the "road kill" list

I kinda figured you were - just bothers me knowing so many people out there need transplants, yet because this person is well known people come out of the woodworks offering their organs.

For what, other than to be able to say I gave (in this case) Natalie Cole my kidney, what about the lesser known patients awaiting transplants, bothers the same importance is not given to them.

Sorry, guess I woke up a true cynic today

(kidding here) I'd take your dad's kidney save me from drinking on my own, comes with its own supply just kidding

Sorry, I don't really know who Natalie Cole is...I just find it absurd that millions of people are in need of transplants much like she is and they are not on the show being publicized.

I'm probably going to need one eventually, but I built that bridge and therefore I will cross it in my own way. Kind of callous to publicize your trouble on a nationally syndicated show, as if millions weren't going to be at the ready to help you out because of your popularity...some things haven't changed since high school...

It happens with everything in MSM..Newsworthing in their eyes