George Michael Cancels Tour After Being Hospitalized for Pneumonia

George Michael performs during his 'Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour'

Tomas Krist/Lidove noviny/isifa/Getty Images

George Michael has canceled the remainder of his current European tour after being hospitalized in Vienna with severe pneumonia. Though the singer's condition has stabilized since entering the hospital, he has been advised by doctors not to perform the 14 remaining concerts on his Symphonica tour. Fans planning to attend the canceled shows – which include a string of gigs in Michael's native England – have been advised to keep their tickets while arrangements are made to reschedule the performances.

Michael's Symphonica tour finds the pop star performing a set of songs from throughout his career with a full orchestra. In addition to his own tunes, he has also been singing a number of covers, including hits by New Order, the Police, Rihanna and Amy Winehouse.


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Song Stories

“Push It”

Salt-N-Pepa | 1987

Originating as a B side to their cover of the Stax classic “Tramp,” Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandi “Pepa” Denton and Dee Dee “DJ Spinderella” Roper came up with the goods on this career-making, Grammy-nominated platinum single about working it on the dancefloor. “Push It” has been sampled and spliced to death since it debuted in 1987, yet the original track is as fresh and fly as when SNP — among the few original women of hip-hop — debuted it. “Most men will never believe ‘Push It’ was never about sex,” said James. “And that’s why the record went to Number One,” said Denton. “Everybody thought it was about sex.”

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