Singer Michael Bolton, known for his ballads and soulful voice, revealed on January 5th, 2023 that he was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year and underwent surgery to remove it before the holidays.
Diagnosis and Immediate Surgery
In December 2022, the Grammy-winning artist began experiencing difficulties with his balance and speech. After undergoing medical examination, Bolton was diagnosed with a non-malignant brain tumor.
Doctors recommended he undergo surgery as soon as possible. Bolton shared that he had “immediate surgery to remove the tumor shortly before Christmas.” The surgery lasted several hours but was considered successful in extracting the entirety of the tumor, allowing Bolton to begin recovering over the holidays.
Tour Postponement for Continued Recovery
The sudden surgery and need for recovery has forced Michael Bolton to postpone his 2023 tour which was set to begin on February 7th. In a video statement posted to Facebook, Bolton explained, “I realize I need to take the time for continued rehabilitation to prepare my entire self for my upcoming tour.”
Several of Bolton’s tour stops included Valentine’s Day performances, which have historically been very popular given Bolton’s discography of romantic ballads. The tour was set to continue through at least mid April with more dates likely added. Refunds are being issued to current ticket holders for the postponed performances.
Michael Bolton 2023 Tour Dates
| Date | Location | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| February 7th | Nashville, TN | Grand Ole Opry House |
| February 10th | Cincinnati, OH | Taft Theatre |
| February 14th | Calgary, AB | Grey Eagle Event Centre |
Bolton has not provided an updated timeline for when the tour can be expected to resume. His team said Bolton “looks forward to returning to touring as soon as he is able.” Based on typical recovery guidelines, the 70 year old singer will likely need at minimum 8 weeks further rehabilitation but potentially as much as 6 months before resuming normal levels of activity.
Prognosis After Brain Tumor Removal Surgery
| Week 1-2 | Hospitalization, healing from surgical wounds |
|---|---|
| Week 2-8 | Gradually increase activity levels while allowing time for brain to heal |
| Week 8+ | Generally cleared for normal levels of activity pending doctor approval |
Connecting With Fans on Social Media During Recovery
Despite postponing upcoming performances to focus on healing, Michael Bolton has still been periodically connecting with fans during early stages of his recovery. He posted a Facebook video on January 4th thanking supporters for their well wishes and prayers. Bolton offered reassurance of his positive prognosis stating he’s “on the path to a complete recovery.”
The American singer has also stayed active replying to fans across his social channels, responding on Twitter to comments of encouragement with heart emojis and writing “Feeling all the love – thanks so much!!” Fans have flooded online platforms with positive messages wishing Bolton support following his shocking year-end surgery.
History of Health Issues
While this brain tumor came as a surprise, Michael Bolton has dealt with other health issues in the past. In the late 90s, Bolton struggled with bronchitis while on tour which resulted in several concert cancellations. In recent years he’s battled food poisoning forcing him to cancel television appearances.
Bolton has mentioned the mental and emotional toll from years of touring contributed to some of his physical illnesses. Despite doctors urging him to slow down his intense touring schedule earlier in his career, Bolton admits “in some ways I drove myself into the ground.” He has since incorporated more preventative self-care like meditation and adopted a mostly vegan diet.
Next Steps – Taking Things “Day By Day”
In his initial statement after surgery, Michael Bolton said he was optimistic about prompt healing but wanted to take things slowly:
I’m fortunate to have an incredible team of doctors and appreciate all the well wishes from everyone. I’m taking things day by day and focusing on my recovery and getting back to full strength.
Without committing to a specific timeline, Bolton’s recovery plan seems to focus primarily on rest and slowly increasing his stamina. As he starts to feel stronger in the coming months, physical rehabilitation will help Bolton regain proper mobility and balance after the invasive tumor removal procedure.
Bolton concluded his recent video message by saying: “I look forward to seeing you all back out on tour as soon as I can.” His devoted fanbase is surely waiting eagerly for that day while also respecting Bolton’s choice to properly prioritize his health during this period.
Get well soon Michael! We wish you a smooth continued recovery.
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