Loretta Lynn Cancels 2017 Tour Dates, Postpones New Album Release After May Stroke

Loretta Lynn has postponed the release of her new album and canceled her 2017 tour dates after suffering a stroke in May.

LORETTA LYNN NEWS: ALBUM POSTPONED, TOUR CANCELED

The country singer’s forthcoming album Wouldn’t It Be Great was originally scheduled for release on Aug. 18, but is being pushed until 2018. “My main focus now is making a full recovery so that I can get back to putting all of me into what I love, sharing my music with all of you,” said Lynn in a statement. The 85-year-old had a stroke in May and was expected to make a full recovery at the time. She has returned home since and has been doing well, health-wise.

“I now want to wait to release [Wouldn’t It Be Great] next year because this record is so special for me. It deserves me at my best and I can’t wait to share it,” the statement continued. “I want to thank everyone for hanging in there with me. I am getting stronger every day and can’t wait to get back out there with all of you. I’m just letting everybody know that Willie [Nelson] ain’t dead yet and neither am I, and I can’t wait to see all of you on the road!”

Wouldn’t It Be Nice is Lynn’s follow-up to her 2016 album Full Circle, which earned much praise. Both albums were produced by John Carter Cash with Lynn’s daughter Patsy Lynn Russell, and the newest collects songs written by Lynn over the years. It includes updated versions of her classics “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’,” as well as a new recording of “God Makes No Mistakes,” which she had recorded with Jack White in 2004.