‘Hard to bear’ video of Freddie Jackson’s performance at a music festival leaves fans concerned about the singer’s health

As the month of June came to a close, legendary singer Freddie Jackson made his highly anticipated return to the St. Kitts Music Festival.

Jackson performed at the first music festival on the West Indian island and will also be present at the 26th edition in 2024. However, some fans have expressed concerns that the 67-year-old’s comeback was anything but triumphant.

He regularly shares videos of himself working out at the gym or sharing his healthy meal options, but a more recent video of Jackson singing his 1985 song “Rock Me Tonight for Old Times Sake” is causing more concern as he appears to have trouble improvising.

“Dear Freddie, it’s okay to back up your own songs… we still love you,” one fan wrote in the comments section under a video summary of Jackson’s performance.

“This is hard to watch,” said another fan.

“I will remember him for his amazing voice. I wish him all the best,” another commented.

“What’s wrong with Freddie?” asked an observer.

“The BIGGER question is why would the promoter book him knowing this is what he sounds like now????????” one social media user noted. The festival’s promoter did not immediately respond to concerns about Jackson’s booking.

Jackson’s performance at the St. Kitts Music Festival was not the first time that his health caused a stir. In December 2017, videos circulated showing Jackson after what appeared to be a dramatic weight loss. Jackson was performing at a New Year’s Eve event at the time.

A few days after the performance, Jackson clarified that his sudden weight loss was not due to an illness and that his health had not rapidly deteriorated. Instead, Jackson said he lost a few pounds because he decided to change his lifestyle and eat healthier foods, according to Ohio radio station Magic 95.5.

The singer of “You Are My Lady” has been delighting her audience for decades.

Tony Rebel and Freddie Jackson#stkittsmusicfestival#mystkitts#stkittstourism pic.twitter.com/Z6sLSwgAiq

— M.E. Arthurton (@MEArthurton) June 29, 2024

Jackson has spoken openly about his personal health issues in the past, acknowledging the physical and mental strain he has endured over the decades.

“You know, sometimes we have aches and pains, and sometimes as men we don’t go to the doctor when we should. We just feel like we’re always supermen. So I go to the doctor a couple of times, and he says, ‘Maybe you should check this out,’ and tells me something’s wrong. I say, ‘No! I’m not, I’m Mr. Rock Me Tonight.’ And he says, ‘You’re rocking and you don’t even know it,'” Jackson told Official Black Magazine in September 2023.

Jackson has gone through phases of shying away from the spotlight. He said whenever he retreated, it was because he prioritized his personal health.

“That’s another reason why I retired, because my health is more important than the stage,” Jackson told the magazine. “A lot of people who started with me aren’t here today. I’m sorry to say this, but as much as I loved it, I love Freddie more.”

Jackson was scheduled to perform in Florida during Father’s Day week in June, but the event was canceled due to what the promoter described as a scheduling conflict.