Aretha Franklin Battling A Serious Illness? Singer Cancels Tour Due To Doctor’s Orders

Aretha Franklin has announced the cancellation of her Toronto concert due to some health concerns.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the queen of soul’s doctors ordered her to not push through with her show on July 1 at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. Unfortunately, no other details about the singer’s health issues were released. But Franklin is already slated to perform at the 2018 Toronto Jazz Festival on June 29, 2018.

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The publication noted that the 75-year-old singer has been performing for 56 years straight. But earlier this year, Franklin announced her upcoming retirement right after the release of her latest album, which was produced by Stevie Wonder.

While speaking with Detroit TV station WDIV Local 4, she said, “I must tell you, I am retiring this year. This will be my last year… I will be recording, but this will be my last year in concert. This is it. I feel very, very enriched and satisfied with respect to where my career came from and where it is now. I’ll be pretty much satisfied, but I’m not going to go anywhere and just sit down and do nothing. That wouldn’t be good either.”

In 2010, Franklin put her music career on hold after she underwent abdominal surgery. At the time, the “Natural Woman” singer did not share details about her health issue, but a spokesperson confirmed that the surgery was successful. Franklin also released a statement to the Associated Press via her spokesperson and said, “God is still in control. I had superb doctors and nurses whom were blessed by all the prayers of the city and the country.”

Earlier in 2010, Franklin also canceled two summer concert dates in New York after breaking her ribs upon taking a spill at her home. A few months later, Franklin was once again confined to the hospital due to unspecified reasons. Her rep announced thereafter that the rest of her concert dates through May 2011 have been canceled.

Franklin’s other hit songs include “Chain of Fools,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “I Knew You Were Waiting,” “Since You’ve Been Gone,” “Rock Steady,” “Respect” and “Baby, I Love You.”