Throat Injury Silences Jordin Sparks
'American Idol' Winner Forced to Leave Alicia Keys Tour
AOL
Posted: 2008-04-21 16:20:29
(April 21) - "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks has been ordered to go on vocal rest and will miss all April concert dates on Alicia Keys' tour after being stricken with a throat injury that doctors warn could cause permanent damage to her vocal cord.
Arnold Turner, Wire Image
Celebrity Health
Scares and Ailments
Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole was diagnosed with hepatitis C in July. A statement released by her publicist said that the disease was likely caused by her drug use years ago. "I am committed...to meet this challenge," Cole said.
"Because of the risk of permanent vocal cord damage, Sparks has been ordered to strict vocal rest and will not be able to perform anywhere until her condition improves," a spokesman for the Bryce Jordan Center, the arena at Penn State where the 18-year-old singer was to perform Sunday, told the
Centre Daily Times.Sparks also had to cancel an Earth Day concert on the National Mall in Washington D.C. scheduled for Monday and will have to wait to join the recently-launched Alicia Keys national tour. She was awarded the opening slot on the tour -- her biggest break since winning "Idol."
"Jordin Sparks is on vocal rest and is expected to make a full and complete recovery," according to a statement from 19/Jive Records. "Sparks has been going nonstop over the past two years and now she's going through the normal course of learning how to manage and care for her voice."
According to
WCBS, Sparks had to cancel an appearance last week on the "Live With Regis and Kelly Show."
At 17, Sparks became the youngest winner in "American Idol" history when she bested Blake Lewis in the sixth season of the hit talent show.
She's been watching this year's contest as well and likes what she sees in several of the guys.
"I really like Jason Castro," Sparks recently told
MTV News. "I like his look, and I love his vulnerability. He goes out there, and if he messes up, he's just like, 'Oops.' But I like David Cook too. I think the guys are where it's at this year. I love you, girls — please don't get me wrong — and I could be totally wrong, because the show is so unpredictable."
Who does she think will be her successor?
"It's going to be either David Archuleta or David Cook," she said before admitting that she believes Cook will ultimately be the winner.
Her debut self-titled album has slowly picked up steam since its November release, with her latest single "No Air" climbing to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week.
Singer Jordin Sparks and NFL Player LaDainian Tomlinson at Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on April 5, 2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona..Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV - Audience.JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa.Scottsdale, AZ United States.April 5, 2008.Photo by Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com..To license this image (15697403), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Singer Jordin Sparks at Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on April 5, 2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona..Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV - Show.JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa .Scottsdale, AZ United States.April 5, 2008.Photo by Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com..To license this image (15696436), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Singer Jordin Sparks performs at Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on April 5, 2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona..Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV - Show.JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa .Scottsdale, AZ United States.April 5, 2008.Photo by Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com..To license this image (15696419), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Singer Jordin Sparks performs at Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on April 5, 2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona..Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV - Show.JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa .Scottsdale, AZ United States.April 5, 2008.Photo by Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com..To license this image (15696418), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Singer Jordin Sparks performs at Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on April 5, 2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona..Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV - Show.JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa .Scottsdale, AZ United States.April 5, 2008.Photo by Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com..To license this image (15696417), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Singer Jordin Sparks performs at Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on April 5, 2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona..Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV - Show.JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa .Scottsdale, AZ United States.April 5, 2008.Photo by Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com..To license this image (15696348), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Singer Jordin Sparks performs at Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on April 5, 2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona..Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV - Show.JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa .Scottsdale, AZ United States.April 5, 2008.Photo by Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com..To license this image (15696346), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Paula Abdul (R) greets American Idol 2007 winner Jordin Sparks at the "Idol Gives Back" show at the Kodak theatre in Hollywood, California April 6, 2008. The "American Idol" special charity event benefits relief programs for children and young people in extreme poverty. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Jordin Sparks is seen at the "Idol Gives Back," fundraising special of "American Idol," in Los Angeles Sunday, April 6, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
AP
Singer and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks arrives at the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night awards banquet in Phoenix, Arizona, April 5, 2008. The event raises money for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and other charities. REUTERS/Jeff Topping (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
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