Franklin is „extremely disappointed she cannot perform.“
Just an hour after word spread that the soul legend Aretha Franklin will be unable to perform April 28, as originally scheduled, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival announced that venerable rocker Rod Stewart will fill the vacancy.
Stewart was a recent visitor to New Orleans when he entertained at the Edymion Mardi Gras ball Feb. 10.
Jazz Fest provided a written statement from Franklin’s management stating that the singer „has been ordered by her doctor to stay off the road and rest completely for at least the next two months. She is extremely disappointed she cannot perform at this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival as she had expected and hoped to.“
Doug MacCash has the best job in the world, covering art, music, and culture in New Orleans. Contact him via email at dmaccash@nola.com. Follow him on Twitter at Doug MacCash and on Facebook at Douglas James MacCash. As always, please add your point of view to the comment stream.