Bonnie Raitt Drops Out of James Taylor Tour Dates Due to Health Issue
UPDATE: Bonnie Raitt has canceled the first leg of her previously announced joint tour with James Taylor due to an unspecific medical condition. According to a statement posted on the singer’s Facebook on Monday, Raitt recently learned after a routine physical that she will soon need surgery; her prognosis is good, and a full recovery is expected.
Sheryl Crow will now join Taylor as a “special guest” for his concerts in Phoenix (May 29th) and L.A. (May 31st, June 1st). The first leg of the tour, which launches May 8th in Jacksonville, Florida, will now be dubbed an “Evening With James Taylor & His All-Star Band” and feature two sets with a brief intermission.
“I’m deeply sorry to have to disappoint my fans, James and colleagues with these cancellations,” Raitt wrote. “I was so looking forward to our tour, but I’m very grateful that the doctors feel this can be taken care of with surgery. Im feeling strong and am in great hands with my wonderful team. I fully expect to return for the second leg of the U.S. tour in June followed by our European tour in July. Thank you all for your concern and understanding that the best gift you could give me is respecting my wish for privacy and giving me space to heal. Can’t wait to see you all back on the road again soon!”
Ticket buyers seeking a refund from a show affected by the cancelation are instructed to contact the original point of purchase. Those who purchased tickets via the artists’ respective sites can do so by emailing tickets@BonnieRaitt.com or tickets@JamesTaylor.com.
“This summer was to be Bonnie’s and my second summer touring together,” Taylor said in a statement on his website. “We wanted to do it again because it was such good fun the first time, we didn’t want it to end. We are so looking forward to having her rejoin the tour in mid-June. Of course, there is no question as to the priority of your health, Bonnie. You will be constantly in our hearts and minds until we see you in June.”
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James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt will unite this summer for a joint tour. Each artist will perform full sets throughout the U.S. trek, which launches May 8th in Jacksonville, Florida; the jaunt spans May and June, including a pair of back-to-back shows at L.A.’s Hollywood Bowl, and concludes July 1st in Buffalo, New York.
All tickets for all dates go on sale January 19th at 10 a.m. local time – except the St. Paul, Minnesota show, which will be available January 20th at 10 a.m. local time – via Taylor’s official site.
The singer-songwriters and longtime friends – who teamed for a cross-country tour last summer – are expected to announce additional shows in the following cities: Charlotte, North Carolina; Greensboro, North Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina; Greenville, South Carolina; Wichita, Kansas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Seattle, Washington; Green Bay, Wisconsin and Indianapolis, Indiana.
Taylor released his 17th studio album, Before This World, in 2015. Raitt issued her own 17th LP, Dig In Deep, the following year.
James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt 2018 Tour Dates
May 8 – Jacksonville, FL @ Veterans Memorial Arena
May 9 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
May 11 – Sunrise, FL @ BB&T Center
May 12 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
May 21 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
May 22 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
May 27 – Denver, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
May 29 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Arena
May 31 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
June 1 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
June 3 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
June 5 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
June 22 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
June 25 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
June 28 – Milwaukee, WI @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater
June 30 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
July 1 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center