Bonnie Raitt Checks In With Fans After Cancelling Shows For Medical Emergency
“The band and I can’t wait to get back to playing…”
We can all breathe a sigh of relief, as Bonnie Raitt is alive and well. The Grammy-winning blues icon has issued a statement to fans after she was forced to cancel tour dates to address a medical emergency, assuring us all that she’s “feeling better every day”.
On April 29, Raitt’s team announced on her behalf that she’d been taken out of commission by “a medical situation that requires surgery to address”. It was not said to be particularly serious, however in abiding by her doctors’ advice, Raitt postponed her scheduled concerts in Athens, Louisville, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. All of those shows will go ahead on new dates – Louisville on Friday June 30 and Indianapolis on Saturday July 1, with the other two slated for as-yet-unannounced spots in 2024 – while her appearance at Brandi Carlile’s Mothership Weekend, scheduled for this Sunday (May 14), was cancelled altogether.
At the time, a representative of Raitt’s wrote: “We deeply apologize for this delay and inconvenience. It's always upsetting to have to disappoint her fans, band, crew and our promoters, but sometimes unforeseen things just happen. Thankfully, Bonnie’s in great hands. She was so looking forward to these shows, but we’re excited to be able to resume our 2023 tour, now kicking off in Dublin, Ireland, June 1st.
“Thank you for your well wishes and understanding, and we very much appreciate your respecting her request for privacy at this healing time.”
Fans naturally poured into the comments, wishing Raitt a speedy return to good health and high spirits in the meantime. She’s taken those to heart, too, sharing a message of thanks to her legion of supporters last night (May 8). “I want to thank you all for your beautiful, caring wishes for my speedy recovery,” she wrote in she wrote in a statement posted on Instagram. “Everything went really well. My healing is on track and I’m feeling better every day.”
As for her shuffled itinerary, Raitt continued: “The band and I can’t wait to get back to playing in a few weeks. I’m so sorry we had to postpone our shows and apologize to those of you who won’t be able to join us for the rescheduled dates. I so appreciate your support and hope you can come see us another time.”
Join our community with our FREE weekly newsletter
Raitt ended her post with a timely shoutout to all the mothers among her fanbase: “Happy early Mother's Day to all the moms, and honoring our grandmas' lineage too! Who’d we be without them? So many thanks. Very grateful to bring good news, see you soon!”
Raitt has enjoyed a massive 2023 thus far, riding the high of her triple win at the 2023 Grammy Awards. She took home the coveted ‘Song of the Year’ award for Just Like That, and with the same tune, scored the trophy for ‘Best American Roots Song’. She also won the award for ‘Best Americana Performance’ with the single Made Up Mind. Both songs appear on her 18th album – also titled Just Like That… – which arrived last April via Redwing Records.
In a statement she made in the wake of the Grammys, Raitt said, “I’m still reeling! So grateful to everyone who helped bring me to last night. Thanks to the [Recording Academy] members who voted for me; to all the members of our mighty [Redwing Records] and support team: to my band, our brilliant engineer, Ryan Freeland, and to my wonderful road crew – I thank you all for helping me get our music out to the world.
“And to all the friends, family and fans who lift me up with their steady love and support. And lastly, to [John Prine] and all the songwriters who keep inspiring and giving us the joy of sharing their music. I’m just bowled over.”
More From Our Network
