This September, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist Molly Tuttle is using her platform to spotlight Alopecia Awareness Month, speaking on her lifelong journey with the autoimmune disease and encouraging fans to support the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF).

In a heartfelt post, Tuttle reminded followers that alopecia is more than hair loss; it’s an ongoing challenge with very real mental and emotional impacts. She shared:

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss. … Losing your hair to Alopecia is shown to have a big impact on mental health and people with Alopecia experience higher rates of depression, anxiety and OCD. Through raised awareness slowly the stigma and attitudes around hair loss are changing and health professionals as well as researchers are taking the impacts of hair loss more seriously! I’ve worked with @naaf_org for years now to raise money for research and community building so if you or someone you know has been diagnosed I highly recommend you check them out!

Molly Tuttle was diagnosed with alopecia areata at age 3 and experienced its most extreme form, alopecia universalis. Growing up bald meant constant questions, assumptions, and sometimes cruel stares; these experiences shaped her relationship with wigs, self-confidence, and her artistry. As a child, the stereotypes hurt, and the attention on her head became a source of anxiety. The annual NAAF conference was one place where being bald was normal and celebrated, “Once a year I got to play with other kids who looked like me,” Tuttle recalled on her website, “I felt pride when I was there and would come home singing Free to Be You and Me with a renewed love of my smooth head.”

For Tuttle, the annual NAAF conference became a rare refuge, a place where being bald was celebrated. She later described her 2017 NAAF performance as “the best gig I ever played,” a moment that marked her decision to reconnect with the alopecia community and let her fans in on this important part of her life. Years later, Molly Tuttle made the bold decision to perform at the event without a wig for the first time, sharing her true self with both the alopecia community and her fans. That moment marked a turning point for Tuttle:

“I realized that if I felt ashamed about being bald, I was also casting shame on these people who clearly had no tolerance for that. … After 22 years of being bald, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

For years, wigs brought her security but also a sense of secrecy around her alopecia. Sharing her bald photo online in 2017 changed everything. Support poured in from fans, friends, and acquaintances who showed her love in that vulnerable moment. Playing for bald children at the conference, she began to reject the inner voices that told her she’d only be prettier or happier with hair. “Looking at the adorable kids who were happy just being themselves,” Tuttle reflected, “I knew that these negative beliefs inside me were not truly my own.”

Her story highlights not only the personal challenges of alopecia but also the strength that comes from connection, community, and acceptance.

“Having alopecia has taught me that there is nothing ‘normal’ about everyone being the same. Humans are beautifully diverse. We all have work to do to make our world a safer and more welcoming place for everyone, regardless of appearance, race, age, sexuality, gender identity, disability, or anything else that makes us human,” Tuttle said.

Alongside her advocacy, Tuttle continues to break new ground musically. Her latest album, So Long Little Miss Sunshine, embodies that same bold spirit. It reflects her evolution as both an artist and a person unafraid to embrace change, blending personal storytelling with adventurous new sounds. The record further establishes her as one of Americana’s most vital voices while staying deeply connected to her identity.

Fans inspired by Molly Tuttle’s message can take action by donating to NAAF, spreading awareness, and amplifying artists’ voices like Tuttle’s to encourage compassion, acceptance, and awareness.

And of course, you can support her directly by catching her on tour or streaming So Long Little Miss Sunshine. Tuttle’s advocacy is changing lives and invites us to build a world rooted in kindness, authenticity, community, and supporting others.