Aretha Franklin Cancels Shows Citing Doctors Orders; Rod Stewart Steps In For NOLA Jazz Fest

Scott Legato / WireImage – Aretha Franklin
Sound Board @ MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit, Mich.

Aretha Franklin is canceling two upcoming performances citing doctor’s orders. She will miss her set at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in April as well as a New Jersey show next week. 

A statement from her management team says the singer has been ordered by her doctor to stay off the road and rest completely for at least the next two months.

It adds that Franklin is “extremely disappointed she cannot perform as she had expected and hoped to.” 

It’s the third time Franklin has missed the NOLA Jazz Fest. Organizers on Friday said Rod Stewart would step in for Franklin, who was to perform there April 28. 

The March 25 show at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark was to happen on the Queen of Soul’s 76th birthday.

Last year, Franklin announced plans to retire, saying she would perform at “some select things.”

In 2017 some of those select appearances, as reported to Pollstar, included Filene Center at Wolf Trap in Virginia, which sold out at just under 7,000 tickets and $500,000 grossed July 29, as well as the Chicago Theatre March 31 which sold out at 3,547 tickets and grossed $263,112, and Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut March 23, which sold 5,419 tickets and grossed $209,079. 

Franklin has two dates in June, at the Wang Theatre in Boston promoted by Parachute Concerts June 2, and the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Fest at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts June 28. Parachute’s Ross Atamian told Pollstar the Wang Theatre show is still on.