Joan Jett Cancels Shows as Rocker Is Unable to Perform After Surgery for Back Injury

Joan Jett is canceling multiple concerts amid her recovery from back surgery.

“Following a recent injury, Joan Jett has undergone orthopedic surgery on a fractured vertebrae and will begin the necessary healing process,” read a statement shared via the rocker’s Instagram Story on Wednesday, August 5.

After speaking with her doctors, Jett, 67, will no longer be able to perform at her two September show dates: one in Costa Mesa, California, on September 5 and the other in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 24th.

“While Joan hates to disappoint fans, she will be taking this time to focus on physical therapy and healing,” the statement continued. “She’s looking forward to delivering tremendous concerts for many years to come.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a fractured vertebrae — also known as a fractured spine — is when a break or collapse occurs in one of the 33 bones making up the spinal column. In some cases, a fractured spine can be caused by major trauma from a fall or car crash or from weakened bone density due to osteoporosis. Jett did not reveal any details about what caused her injury.

Recovery time for a spinal fracture is three months without surgery. For those who get the procedure, the recovery time is longer. It can take six weeks just to recover from the surgery plus an additional few months for the spine to heal, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Jett has been on the road since May. The rockstar recently finished up multiple shows in Europe and was gearing up to return stateside.

“Thanks for the summer love Europe, can’t wait to come back 🖤,” she wrote via Instagram on August 3 alongside a compilation of videos from her various shows.

Earlier this year, Jett opened up about how it has been challenging to recover from touring as she’s gotten older.

“[I’ve been touring] every year of my life since I’ve been in a band,” she said in a June interview with The Telegraph. “So the touring I don’t mind. It’s the traveling that’s an ass-kicker, I’ll tell you. As I get older, it’s not easy to recuperate as when I was in my 20s.”

Jett added that connecting with fans has been a main reason why she keeps performing.

“Especially these days, [when] we need it more than ever … We can all finally be one for a moment, as clichéd as that sounds. But it’s true,” she reflected. “When you can lose yourself in that moment… it’s not about thinking about what’s going to happen. You just do it. You just be it.”