Nicholas Hunt/WireImageLegendary singer Aretha Franklin will miss two high-profile shows after being ordered by her doctor to rest for the next several weeks, reports Rolling Stone.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer was set to perform a concert on her 76th birthday, March 25, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, as well as a headlining gig April 28 at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest.
In a statement, the Queen of Soul’s management said, “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.”
Organizers of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival have announced that Rod Stewart will take Aretha’s place as the April 28 headliner.
As of now, Aretha is still scheduled to play two shows in June — a June 2 gig at the Wang Theatre in Boston and a June 28 concert at the Toronto Jazz Fest.
Last year, Aretha revealed plans to retire from the road by the end of 2017, but still went ahead and scheduled a handful of dates for 2018.
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