Rock band Heart cancels show and tour at Allentown Fair while singer is diagnosed with cancer

ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania — Rock band Heart has canceled its current tour, including the opening night grandstand show at the Allentown Fair, because lead singer Ann Wilson is undergoing cancer treatment, it was announced Tuesday.

Wilson released a statement describing the events that led to the decision, saying that while she was doing well, her doctors had recommended additional treatment for her condition.

“Dear friends,” she said in an Instagram post, “I underwent surgery to remove something that turned out to be cancerous.

“The surgery was successful and I feel great, but my doctors are now advising me to undergo preventive chemotherapy and I have decided to do that.

“And that’s why my doctors have advised me to stay off the stage for the rest of the year to fully recover.

“To those who bought tickets: I really wish we could do these shows. Please know that I fully intend to be back on stage in 2025. My team is sorting out these details and we will share the plan with you as soon as possible.

“Thank you all for your support.

“This is just a break.

“I still have a lot more to sing.

“Love, Ann Wilson.”

Wilson also said: “With all due respect, this is the last public statement I wish to make on this matter.”

The band, famous for hits such as “Alone,” “Barracuda,” “Magic Man,” “Crazy on You” and others, was scheduled to headline the Allentown Fair on August 28 with the opening track “Cheap Trick.”

Jessica Ciecwisz, the fair’s marketing and entertainment manager, said they were of course disappointed by the announcement but wished Wilson all the best.

“It would have been great for the fair and for the (trade fair company), but health is more important,” said Ciecwisz.

“It’s always sad to see that. I don’t know what to say.”

Ciecwisz said ticket sales for the show, which went on sale in February, have been good and the fair is already working on bringing the band back for the 2025 fair.

In addition, the fair worked to fill the opening night slot left vacant by Heart.

History of a hit machine

Heart launched in 1975 and has since sold 25 million copies of its 15 studio albums, nine live CDs and ten compilations.

Their debut album, “Dreamboat Annie,” from 1975, went platinum and landed in the top 10 of the album charts. Along with “Magic Man” and “Crazy On You,” the title song was also a hit.

The band was even more successful with “Little Queen” from 1977: The album went triple platinum and produced the hit “Barracuda”.

The group’s greatest success came with the 1985 album of the same name, which went platinum five times, reached number 1 and gave the group their biggest hit with the single “These Dreams”.

In 1988, the group released the triple-platinum album “Bad Animals,” which included the hit “Alone.”

The success continued with the 1993 album “Desire Walks On”, which was certified gold. The most recent album with new music was “Beautiful Broken” in 2016.

Heart was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

From 2016 to 2019, Heart took a hiatus after the sisters’ relationship was strained by Ann Wilson’s husband, Dean Wetter, who pleaded guilty to assaulting Nancy Wilson’s 16-year-old twin sons.

The group reunited in 2019, but their tour was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. In 2022, Nancy Wilson went on tour with her own version of Heart, called Nancy Wilson’s Heart, which was performed at the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem in June.