Aretha Franklin Cancels Shows Due To Health Concerns
Last year when I found out that legendary singer Aretha Franklin could possibly stop touring forever, I immediately gave Groupon all of my coins so I could see her perform, and I wasn’t disappointed. She hit the stage wearing a low-cut sparkly gown and a full length fur coat. In July. And when I tell you that lady sang like her life depended on it, I’m not lying. It was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. Well, everyone join hands and slide into a chorus of “Say A Little Prayer” because Auntie ‘Retha has been ordered to refrain from touring due to health concerns.
Entertainment Weekly reports that Aretha has been advised by her doctor to cancel her upcoming shows, which includes a jazz festival in New Orleans at the end of April and a show in New Jersey on March 25th, which is her birthday. Her management released the following statement:
“Aretha Franklin has been ordered by her doctor to stay off the road and rest completely for at least the next two months. She is extremely disappointed she cannot perform at this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival as she had expected and hoped to.”
Aretha’s last performance was at Elton John’s annual AIDS Foundation gala in November. And this isn’t the first time that Aretha’s health has become a major concern since rumors of a bout with cancer have been circulating for years. But she always rises to the occasion. And since she recently hand picked Jennifer Hudson to portray her in a biopic, I’m thinking she’s resting now so she can show up on set everyday to let Jennifer know everything she’s doing wrong.
I LOVE Aretha, and hearing she’s got health problems makes me want to grab a prayer cloth and rush to her side to wipe her forehead and belt out “Bridge Over Troubled Water” in my best Karaoke Night voice. But don’t count her out just yet; Aretha is slated to perform in Boston and Toronto in June. So now I’m feeling kinda salty because she lied to me last year when she said she wasn’t touring anymore. Dammit, I skipped my rent payment to see her and almost got put out on the street! You ain’t slick Aretha. All this talk of not touring gets sentimental mu’fuckas like me to run to your shows with tears in their eyes thinking they beat your countdown clock. Stop scaring us like this!
Pic: Wenn.com