By Nekesa Mumbi Moody
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK – Whitney Houston has again pushed back the European leg of her first tour in years on the advice of doctors who are encouraging her to take time to recover from a respiratory illness, according to a statement issued last Wednesday.
Houston had already postponed the European kickoff, originally scheduled for last Tuesday in Paris, because of illness. A statement from a representative said doctors advised Houston to reschedule concerts Thursday and Friday in Manchester, England, and a Sunday performance in Glasgow, Scotland.
All dates are being rescheduled, and the 46-year-old singer’s tour is now supposed to start Tuesday in Birmingham, England.
“Doctors visited Whitney late last night in Paris and confirmed that she was suffering from an upper respiratory infection,” the statement read. “Upon medical advice Whitney has been advised that she cannot perform to allow her time to recover.”
The statement noted she delayed the tour with “great disappointment.”
Houston, one of pop’s all-time best-selling artists, had been on a hiatus from music as she battled drug addiction and ended a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown. But with her new CD, “I Look to You,” she returned on the top of the charts and declared herself healthy and free from substance abuse.
The superstar has been on a world tour to promote the CD, which has sold more than 1 million copies in the United States alone.
However, the tour has been troubled; performances in Australia and elsewhere were negatively received by some fans and critics, who complained Houston did not showcase the majestic voice she is known for.
Video snippets of her performances showed Houston sweating and struggling to hit notes, leading some to wonder about her health.
In February, her representative issued a statement denying any troubles, saying, “Whitney is in great health and having a terrific time on her tour and with her fans.”
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