Elton John Cancels Three Concerts After Hospitalization

by Associated Press  |   May 24, 2012 2:15 EDT

Elton John is canceling three Las Vegas performances on doctors' orders after being hospitalized with a respiratory infection.

Officials with Caesars Entertainment say the Thursday, Saturday and Sunday performances of "The Million Dollar Piano" are being cancelled.

Show officials say Elton John came down with the infection last weekend and was admitted Wednesday to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was later released.

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Doctors recommended he not perform for a week and take antibiotics.

The singer says in a statement that he's sorry he can't be with his fans at The Colosseum.

Ticket holders are eligible for refunds or exchanges at the site where they bought tickets.

"The Million Dollar Piano" launched in September for a three-year run and features the singer's classic songs.

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Elton John cancels Vegas dates due to infection

Musician Elton John performs during the benefit ''Songs From the Silver Screen'' to raise funds for The Rainforest Trust at Carnegie Hall in New York April 3, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Carlo Allegri

NEW YORK | Thu May 24, 2012 6:41pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Singer Elton John was treated in hospital in Los Angeles for a serious respiratory infection that forced him to cancel performances this weekend of his "The Million Dollar Piano" show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

In a statement posted on his website on Thursday, the British entertainer, whose hits include "Rocket Man," "Your Song" and "Bennie and The Jets," apologized for the decision and told fans he hoped to be performing soon.

The singer said he developed a serious respiratory illness while performing on Sunday. After the condition worsened he was hospitalized and had tests at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where he remained throughout the day on Wednesday. He was given antibiotics and told not to perform for a week.

"It feels strange not to be able to perform these 'Million Dollar Piano' concerts at The Colosseum. I love performing this show and will be thrilled when we return to The Colosseum in October to complete the eleven concerts soon to be scheduled," he said.

Fans with tickets for the canceled shows can exchange them or get a refund.

John opened his Las Vegas act last September and began a second series of performances in February. A child piano prodigy, John, 65, rose from a part-time pub player to become one of the most successful recording artists of all time.

He completed a 5-year residency at the Colosseum in 2009 with "The Red Piano", which ran for 241 shows.

(Reporting by Patricia Reaney; editing by Doina Chiacu)

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Dohnanyi cancels Hungary appearances in protest (AP)

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Hungary's State Opera says German conductor Cristoph von Dohnanyi has canceled a pair of appearances to protest the appointment of a theater director linked to far-right groups.

Dohnanyi said in a letter released Friday by the Hungarian State Opera that he does not want to "appear in a city whose mayor entrusted the direction of a theater to two known, extreme right-wing anti-Semites."

Mayor Istvan Tarlos' recent appointment of Gyorgy Dorner was widely criticized by Jewish organizations, as well as a large group of directors of other Budapest theaters.

Dorner has named Istvan Csurka, a playwright and former lawmaker known for anti-Semitic speeches and articles, as his deputy.

The Opera said it was considering suing Dohnanyi for compensation.

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Bronchitis-hit Taylor Swift cancels three more shows (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Country-pop singer Taylor Swift on Wednesday canceled three more of her U.S. concerts due to bronchitis but said she hoped to be better for a July 14 date in Montreal.

Swift, 21, said she was advised by doctors not to perform at all this week. She postponed dates in Charlotte and Atlanta on July 8, 9 and 10 for October and November, after pulling out of a show in Louisville on July 2.

It's the first time that the popular "Speak Now" singer has had to postpone or cancel a show because of illness.

"It breaks my heart to miss out on this weekend's shows with my friends in Charlotte and Atlanta," Swift said in a statement.

"I would never cancel if I thought I was physically able to perform these shows. I am so sorry to the fans, but I look forward to seeing you when we come back through your towns, which we will do," she added.

Swift, one of the best-selling artists in the United States, is scheduled to play 98 shows in 17 countries on her current tour in support of her 2010 album "Speak Now".

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Katy Perry cancels concerts after food-poisoning (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap) – When Katy Perry opens her mouth to sing, something beautiful tends to come out. When she opens her mouth to eat? Maybe not so much.

The "Teenage Dream" singer was forced to cancel a pair of concerts for Friday and Saturday after suffering a bout of food poisoning and severe dehydration, according to her official website.

The concerts, which were to occur in Chicago and St. Paul, have been rescheduled for next month. Perry fought through the illness to fire up her Twitter account and announce the new dates on Friday, writing, "Chicago and St. Paul -- I'm so sorry to have to postpone today and tomorrow's shows. But I'll be back 8/21 (CHI) and 8/23 (St. Paul)!"

Perry noted in a statement, "I am going to return in a few weeks to give them the very best show ever!"

Perry's next concert is scheduled for Regina, Saskatchewan, on Wednesday.

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Bronchitis-hit Taylor Swift cancels three more shows

Singer Taylor Swift arrives at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards show in Las Vegas, May 22, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Steve Marcus

LOS ANGELES | Wed Jul 6, 2011 8:00pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country-pop singer Taylor Swift on Wednesday canceled three more of her U.S. concerts due to bronchitis but said she hoped to be better for a July 14 date in Montreal.

Swift, 21, said she was advised by doctors not to perform at all this week. She postponed dates in Charlotte and Atlanta on July 8, 9 and 10 for October and November, after pulling out of a show in Louisville on July 2.

It's the first time that the popular "Speak Now" singer has had to postpone or cancel a show because of illness.

"It breaks my heart to miss out on this weekend's shows with my friends in Charlotte and Atlanta," Swift said in a statement.

"I would never cancel if I thought I was physically able to perform these shows. I am so sorry to the fans, but I look forward to seeing you when we come back through your towns, which we will do," she added.

Swift, one of the best-selling artists in the United States, is scheduled to play 98 shows in 17 countries on her current tour in support of her 2010 album "Speak Now".

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Katy Perry cancels concerts after food-poisoning

Singer Katy Perry poses on arrival at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California February 13, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Danny Moloshok

By Tim Kenneally

Fri Jul 8, 2011 8:00pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap) - When Katy Perry opens her mouth to sing, something beautiful tends to come out. When she opens her mouth to eat? Maybe not so much.

The "Teenage Dream" singer was forced to cancel a pair of concerts for Friday and Saturday after suffering a bout of food poisoning and severe dehydration, according to her official website.

The concerts, which were to occur in Chicago and St. Paul, have been rescheduled for next month. Perry fought through the illness to fire up her Twitter account and announce the new dates on Friday, writing, "Chicago and St. Paul -- I'm so sorry to have to postpone today and tomorrow's shows. But I'll be back 8/21 (CHI) and 8/23 (St. Paul)!"

Perry noted in a statement, "I am going to return in a few weeks to give them the very best show ever!"

Perry's next concert is scheduled for Regina, Saskatchewan, on Wednesday.

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Amy Winehouse cancels shows after Belgrade blunder (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – English pop singer Amy Winehouse, whose promising career has been crippled by substance abuse problems, cut short a European tour on Sunday after fans in Belgrade jeered her shoddy opening-night performance.

Winehouse, 27, sporting her trademark bouffant hairdo and figure-hugging dress, struggled to perform her songs and keep her balance as her band gamely played on. On some tunes, the audience did most of the singing.

On other occasions, Winehouse lectured her bandmates, and anxiously clutched her arms. She appeared to be reading the lyrics from a teleprompter. The singer was headlining a Serbian festival, whose lineup included techno singer Moby.

A representative said upcoming festival dates in Istanbul on Monday and in Athens on Wednesday would be canceled. Her next show is scheduled for July 8 in Spain.

"Despite feeling sure that she wanted to fulfill these commitments, she has agreed with management that she cannot perform to the best of her ability and will return home," a statement said. "She would like to apologize to fans expecting to see her at the shows but feels that this is the right thing to do."

Belgrade media and fans heaped abuse on her in the aftermath of the show. One fan, writing on Winehouse's website, described her as "another punkass junkie and lush."

Another took a more sympathetic view. "I was there, and it was (a) sad thing to watch. Shame on her management, to allow her on stage in that state. She's not to blame -- she needs help."

Winehouse has been getting help for years as she struggled with addiction. She rose to mainstream fame in 2006 with the hit single "Rehab," and won four Grammys awards in 2008 including best new artist and album of the year. She was unable to attend the ceremony in Los Angeles because of legal problems, and she is yet to release a follow-up recording.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

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