ICYMI: Aretha Franklin Cancels Show “Per Doctor’s Orders”
The Queen of Soul has been sidelined by health issues once again.
Aretha Franklin has canceled a July 1 concert at the Toronto Jazz Festival “as per doctor’s orders,” with plans to appear at the 2018 edition of the event; Ticketholders are being given the option of a refund or tickets to next year’s festival.
Franklin has canceled several shows over the past few years for health concerns, though the specific issues have never been made public. She recently told us that she plans to give up performing entirely — though apparently now not until after the Toronto festival next year:
“It’s still in the making and moving in that direction…After 54 years of traveling and flying and all of that, of course I’ve been off the planes now for a good little while, but after while the bus, depending…how far you’re going can be very tiring and it can also take a lot out of you so this is about it. I’m winding down…Where I used to do five, six dates a month I’m only doing one or two a month now, and I may not do two, so that’s about where it is.”
Franklin is currently working on a new album featuring guest collaborations with Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie and others that she plans to release early next year.
Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist who not only covers music but has written books on Bob Seger, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.
