Country music icon LeAnn Rimes has announced the postponement of two highly anticipated Washington state concerts, revealing she is battling a severe illness that has left her unable to travel or perform this week.
The 43-year-old singer shared the disappointing news via her Instagram Story on Wednesday, April 29, expressing profound regret over the necessary schedule changes. The announcement affects performances scheduled for Thursday, April 30, at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox in Spokane, Washington, and Friday, May 1, at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Washington.
"Due to severe illness, I am unable to travel & perform this week," Rimes wrote to her followers. "I'm sorry to share that the upcoming shows in Spokane and Seattle will be rescheduled. Also, good news as we will be seeing you very soon."
The Grammy-winning artist, known for her powerful ballad "How Do I Live," has rescheduled the Spokane performance for Sunday, May 31, while Seattle concertgoers will now see her on Tuesday, June 2. The rescheduled dates offer Washington fans the opportunity to experience Rimes' acclaimed live performances later this spring.
"I am truly heartbroken to have to reschedule and I am so very grateful for your kindness and continued support as I recover," Rimes continued in her statement. "I look forward to being back on stage and seeing you very soon."
The nature of Rimes' illness remains undisclosed, though the announcement comes approximately one month after the singer garnered widespread attention for sharing footage of an unconventional therapeutic procedure. On March 29, Rimes and Human Garage posted a video showing her undergoing a deep jaw release procedure designed by Garry Lineham, during which she experienced visible emotional distress.
The 60-second clip featured Rimes grimacing as her jaw was physically manipulated before she burst into tears, prompting significant online discussion about the treatment's authenticity and effectiveness. The procedure is described as a self-healing process targeting tension stored in the jaw, which proponents claim serves as a primary storage site for stress in the body.
Rimes later defended the authenticity of her emotional response to skeptics, telling Entertainment Weekly on April 20 that her reaction was genuine. "The people were commenting on [the post], being [like], 'Of course the camera was on, she was gonna cry,'" she said. "I'm like, 'I can act, but I am not that good. I am not that good.' I'm not Meryl Streep."
The health setback arrives during a challenging period for the singer, who recently marked her 15th wedding anniversary with husband Eddie Cibrian on April 23. In an Instagram post reflecting on the milestone, Rimes alluded to difficult circumstances affecting her family, describing the anniversary as "one filled with tears and worry" amid "very tense, heart wrenching things happening at home with family."
"We got to step away for 3 days amidst work and some very tense, heart wrenching things happening at home with family," Rimes wrote. "It's been a different anniversary, one filled with tears and worry, but in between, there were moments of laughter and deep gratitude for this love of ours. day by day, we walk hand in hand through the rollercoaster of life."
Rimes and Cibrian, 52, married in April 2011. The musician serves as stepmother to Cibrian's two sons, Mason, 22, and Jake, 18, from his previous marriage to Brandi Glanville, which lasted from 2001 to 2010. Rimes was previously married to dancer Dean Sheremet from 2002 to 2010.
Ticketholders for the postponed Washington performances should contact their point of purchase for information regarding the rescheduled dates. The singer has not provided a timeline for her recovery or indicated whether additional tour dates may be affected by her current health challenges.