Country star Hardy announced on social media on Tuesday that he was cancelling or postponing his next three concerts due to what he described as “severe anxiety” and panic attacks that “landed me in hospital”. He indicated that the conditions have “taken over my life” over the past two weeks and represent a delayed trauma from a bus accident a year ago.
The singer noted that he expects to be in better shape in nine days when he resumes his autumn headlining tour in Jonesboro, AR on 12 October.
“I need to be honest with everyone for a second,” Hardy wrote. “I have been dealing with some serious anxiety since the bus accident last year and over the past two weeks it has taken control of my life. It has caused me to suffer many panic attacks that have landed me in hospital. I need a moment to focus on myself and make myself better for my wife, my family and you, the fans. … My plan is to be back and focused on the 12th of October. Thank you for your understanding and see you soon.
Two of the shows have been cancelled: one in Simpsonville, SC on Thursday and another in Brandon, MS on Saturday. A third show that was scheduled to take place between those dates, at the Georgia Rodeo on Friday, has been postponed and will be rescheduled for 12 April 2024.
Hardy’s announcement comes just days after the one-year anniversary of a bus crash that occurred on I-40 near Nashville as he and three others were returning from a show in Bristol, TN. At the time, Hardy said all four on board suffered “significant injuries”, although he said he had been told by doctors to spend several weeks recovering after being released from hospital.
His label, Big Loud, said there would be no further comment beyond what the artist wrote on social media.
Hardy’s ‘The Mockingbird & the Crow’ tour still has two months to go after his planned return, running until 9 December. He hasn’t announced any tour plans for next year, but will be one of the top acts at California’s Stagecoach Festival in April, sharing the bill with collaborator and frequent tourmate Morgan Wallen.
The singer-songwriter recently received four nominations for the CMA Awards, which take place in Nashville on 8 November. His song ‘Wait in the Truck’, a duet with Lainey Wilson, is up for single of the year, song of the year, musical event of the year and music video of the year. These nominations follow the seven nominations he received at the ACM Awards in the spring.
