Country legend Rodney Crowell shared some bad news on Sept. 19 via social media, cancelling his remaining tour dates for the year due to unspecified health concerns.
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The announcement follows a couple of cancelled high-profile appearances. Crowell was unable to appear and accept his Song of the Year Award for "It Ain't Over Yet" at last week's Americana Honors and Awards. He was also in the running for the Album of the Year award, won by Sturgill Simpson's A Sailor's Guide to Earth. A few days later, he cancelled a headlining performance at the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Festival.
Crowell has done it all in country music. A young singer-songwriter during the outlaw days, he first rose to prominence as a key member of Emmylou Harris' Hot Band. Solo success netted five commercial hits off 1988 album Diamonds & Dirt and numerous critically-praised songs in the years that followed. Furthermore, his production skills made him the secret weapon of everyone from Sissy Spacek to Chely Wright.
Crowell's website still lists several tour dates for 2018, beginning with the Outlaw Country Cruise, Jan. 22-26. A string of solo acoustic dates follow in February. Hopefully, that's a sign that whatever ails him might be more manageable after a brief hiatus.
