Grammy Winner Bonnie Raitt Forced To Cancel Tour After Doctor's Unexpected Discovery
There’s something amazing about musicians whose careers span decades. Even the most talented singers and songwriters can easily fall prey to the fickle whims of popular taste.
And few musicians have had as storied (and lengthy) careers as Bonnie Raitt. Perhaps that’s why fans reacted with alarm when they learned that she’d be bowing out of her spring tour dates with legend James Taylor.
“I’m deeply sorry to have to disappoint my fans, James, and colleagues with these cancellations,” she wrote on her website.
Indeed, such a cancellation had to be a disappointment given Raitt’s reputation as an incredibly hardworking singer.
Her musical career began in the 1960s when she began playing at coffeehouses in between her college classes.
The rough-hewn elegance of her songs soon attracted the attention of blues legends such as Muddy Water, and she earned a record contract from Warner Bros.
Commercial success eluded her until 1977, though, when she released the album “Sweet Forgiveness.” She propelled that success into social activism, appearing in hundreds of movement-focused shows whose messages meshed with her Quaker faith.
It was at one of these shows that she first encountered Taylor, who was an impressive star in his own right. Their professional friendship continued over the years, up to this very day.
She kept on working, too. In fact, she released her 17th studio album “Dig in Deep” in 2016.
So why did an artist of Raitt’s caliber cancel a show with Taylor? Sadly, it was due to an unspecified health issue, but Raitt has said that she expects to fully recover.
“[F]ollowing her annual physical, it was determined she needs to schedule some surgery soon,” an announcement on her website said. “The prognosis is good and a full recovery is expected.”
Raitt herself added, “I was so looking forward to our tour, but I’m very grateful that the doctors feel this can be taken care of with surgery… I fully expect to return for the second leg of the US tour in June followed by our European tour in July.
“Thank you all for your concern and understanding that the best gift you could give me is respecting my wish for privacy and giving me space to heal. Can’t wait to see you all back on the road again soon!”
So fans of the searing songstress should take heart. Though Raitt still needs our thoughts and prayers, it looks as though she will soon be back on the stage.
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