Ann Wilson, the lead singer of rock band Heart, is battling cancer and will step away from the Royal Flush Tour for the rest of the year to focus on her health and recovery.
Wilson, 74, shared the news with fans in a heartfelt Instagram post on Tuesday, detailing his health and expressing his regret at the tour's postponement. “I recently had surgery to remove something that was apparently cancerous,” he wrote. “The surgery was successful and I feel great, but my doctors are now advising me to undergo preventative chemotherapy treatment and I have decided to do so.”
The Royal Flush Tour, which included more than 50 shows across the United States and Canada, is being rescheduled for 2025. The tour was set to include performances by Heart alongside bands including Def Leppard and Journey, but it's unclear whether those artists will join the tour for its rescheduled dates.
“To ticket buyers, I really wish we could do these shows. Please know that I fully intend to be back on stage in 2025,” Wilson wrote. All previously purchased tickets will be valid for the new dates.
Ann Wilson’s career spans decades alongside her sister Nancy Wilson. The Seattle-based band got their big break when they opened for Rod Stewart in Montreal in 1975, attracting media attention due to the novelty of women. The following year, Heart released their first album, Dreamboat Annie, which included the songs “Magic Man” and “Crazy on You,” which peaked at No. 9 and No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2023 for their profound influence on rock music.
Heart's European leg of the tour was cancelled in May due to an “urgent but routine procedure” with a six-week recovery time, perhaps a reference to the operation Ann Wilson spoke of.
“This is just a break. I have a lot more singing to do,” Wilson wrote on Tuesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
