‘Health comes first’: Tina Arena postpones rest of Aussie tour due to illness

Singer Tina Arena has postponed the rest of her Australian tour dates, pulling the plug one day before she was due on stage.

Tina Arena has been forced to postpone the rest of her Australian tour dates due to illness, pulling the plug one day before she was due on stage.

The Aussie singer shared the news with her fans on Instagram on Thursday evening, telling her followers she was postponing the remainder Aussie dates of her Love Saves World Tour.

“For the very first time, I have to postpone the rest of my Australian shows,” she began in her heartfelt post.

“Believe me when I say, it was a hard decision. But remember, health always comes first. Therefore, to ensure it won’t happen again … here we are.”

The announcement came on the eve of her planned Gold Coast performance this evening, and days after she played in Sydney and Perth last Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

However, the 55-year-old encouraged concertgoers to hold on to their tickets as new dates will be announced soon, believed to be in 2024.

Tina Arena has postponed the rest of her Australian tour dates due to illness. Picture: Naomi Rahim/WireImage

“Please hold on to your tickets, there will be more information soon,” she wrote. “I wish you all the very best, and my sincere apologies for any inconveniences.”

Her famous friends were quick to rally around the singer and send their get well wishes.

“Health first always but I know how hard it is to postpone things. Sending love,” wrote singer Debbie Gibson. ️“Your audience cares about you the human being and will wait.”

The singer was due to perform on the Gold Coast on October 13.

And TV personality Julia Morris said: “Such a hard decision … but you are right … without our health we have nuttin. Love you jx.”

Entertainment journalist Peter Ford spoke of Arena’s shock announcement on Sunrise this morning, reiterating the fact she has never postponed a gig in her decades-long career.

“[She] doesn’t miss shows, she’s old school – if you have a gig booked you do it,” he said. “On her Instagram post, she actually said that this is the first time ever [she has cancelled]. Now, how long has Tina been around … 40 years?”

Arena rehearsing in Melbourne on October 5 ahead of her Sydney and Perth shows. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

Indeed, Arena has been in the entertainment industry since she first appeared on the TV show Young Talent Time in 1974.

“Fingers crossed she is getting good care and the attention that she needs,” he added. “But for Tina to cancel is something, I hope she is OK.”

The singer will still head to the US, Canada, Paris and London for her global tour dates in November. Picture: Kidd Suave/Supplied

In his segment, Ford said Arena appeared in “good form” at her last show in Perth on Sunday night, so he believes “something has happened between last weekend and yesterday when that news came through”.

However, Ford says although the Australian leg of the tour is postponed, Arena is still planning to perform in the US and Canada from November 5, and then Paris and London in late November.

“The very fact that the promoters are saying it is an illness and Tina herself is saying, ‘I have to look after my health’ rather than the usual thing of scheduling conflicts and all that kind of stuff, those code words they use. Instead they are openly saying, ‘She is sick.’”