Cher Cancels Tour Dates: Pop Diva ‘Devastated’ As Kidney Infection Terminates ‘Dressed To Kill’
When Cher cancels a tour, the hard-working and iconic pop diva must have a pretty legitimate reason — and in the case of her current “Dressed To Kill” tour, she did. A persistent viral kidney infection forced the ageless superstar to call off the 23 shows left on her U.S. tour, after already postponing several previous concerts due to the same illness.
Cher, whose given name is Cherilyn Sarkisian, has been one of the biggest names in show business since the 1965 release of the single, “I Got You Babe,” recorded with her then-husband, songwriter, and performer Sonny Bono, under their Sonny and Cher name.
Cher was just 19-years-old when “I Got You Babe,” was released. The song was such a hit it actually displaced The Beatles at the top of the Billboard charts and went on to become a pop standard. The marriage between Cher and Sonny Bono endured from 1964 until 1975. Cher then married rock star Gregg Allman, divorcing him in 1979.
The superstar is now 68, and described herself as “totally devastated” about having to cancel her tour, in a statement on the tour’s website.
“Nothing like this has ever happened to me,” Cher continued in the statement I cannot apologize enough to all the fans who bought tickets. I’m so proud of this show. It is my best ever. I sincerely hope that we can come back again next year and finish what we started.”
Cher, an active communicator with her fans through her Twitter account, posted a series of apologetic messages to her 2.63 million Twitter followers, beginning Thursday night and continuing into Friday.
I’m SORRY I Couldn’t B the 1 to tell you about postponing my tour. I Tried SO HARD 2b Strong enough,but my Will couldn’t force my Body time
— Cher (@cher) November 21, 2014
Im devastated (& NO fun 2b around)that I’m not packing all Blk & 1 P.Treacy 4 Bus WILL NEVER SAY AGAIN”Is It Show Nite?I’m A-Wee-Bit Tired” — Cher (@cher) November 21, 2014
Am Trying 2?Let go & Let God,”but I suck at Letting Go & Letting Anybody! This is a CRUSHING BLOW 4 ME & IM BEYOND SORRY 4 DISSAPOINTING U
— Cher (@cher) November 21, 2014
Appreciate your understanding….U R Amazing,but I Was Having SO Much Fun & Am SO SAD It’s like when u r a kid & trip2 Disneyland is Canceled — Cher (@cher) November 21, 2014
Cher also said that her sadness over having to cancel her tour was compounded by the death of her friend, film director Mike Nichols who directed Cher in the 1983 drama Silkwood.
According to a statement from the Cher management team, the kidney infection just wouldn’t go away, and her medical team insisted that she stop performing.
“While her progress has been consistent, Cher’s doctors have advised her to take more time to ensure a complete and total recovery,” the statement said.
Among the tour dates Cher has now cancelled are two shows at New York City’s Madison Square Garden and one each at large arenas in Chicago and Bosyon, as well as a number of dates in Texas, Florida, South Dakota, and Toronto, Canada.
Cher’s Twitter statements appeared to say that she intends this to be the first and last time she cancels a tour.
