Joan Jett has cancelled two September shows after undergoing orthopaedic surgery for a fractured vertebra, putting recovery ahead of a quick return to the stage. Her team said the 67-year-old rocker will now focus on physical therapy and healing, with no timetable yet announced.
The affected performances are:
- September 5 at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, California
- September 24 at the Bourbon & Beyond festival in Louisville, Kentucky
“Following a recent injury, Joan Jett has undergone orthopaedic surgery on a fractured vertebra and will begin the necessary healing process,” her team said in a statement shared on Instagram.
No details have been released about how Jett was injured, what procedure she underwent or how long her recovery could take.
Why were the September performances cancelled?
Jett’s team said the decision was made “in close consultation with her doctors,” who determined that she would not be able to perform at the two scheduled appearances.
“While Joan hates to disappoint fans, she will be taking this time to focus on physical therapy and healing,” the statement continued. “She’s looking forward to delivering tremendous concerts for many years to come.”
That final line makes the priority fairly clear. For an artist whose concerts depend on sustained physical energy, recovery is not a decorative item on the schedule. The aim is not simply to get through another performance, but to protect her ability to keep touring in the years ahead.
The announcement applies to two bookings rather than a full tour, despite some reports describing it as a tour cancellation. Jett’s representatives have not announced any other withdrawals.
What does this mean for ticket holders?
The Costa Mesa performance was due to take place at the 8,200-capacity Pacific Amphitheatre during the Orange County Fair. No replacement performer or ticket arrangements had been announced by August 8.
Bourbon & Beyond is scheduled to run from September 24 to 27 at the Highland Festival Grounds in Louisville. Its website was still displaying Joan Jett & the Blackhearts on the 2026 lineup after her team confirmed the cancellation, apparently before the festival listing had been updated.
Organizers had not named a replacement act or published specific refund information for Jett’s appearance. Festival passes generally cover the wider event rather than one artist, but attendees will need to wait for official guidance on any lineup or ticket changes.
The Louisville event is a substantial operation for the city. Organizers have said Bourbon & Beyond and sister festival Louder Than Life generated nearly $43 million in local economic impact in 2025. One cancellation will not dismantle a four-day festival, but Jett’s absence removes a major veteran rock act from its opening-day bill.
The injury follows a major UK return
The enforced break comes shortly after Joan Jett & the Blackhearts completed their first UK headline tour in 16 years. The five-date run included concerts in Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Wolverhampton and London.
Jett then opened for My Chemical Romance at Wembley Stadium on July 10. Reviewing the Glasgow show on July 2, The Guardian described her voice as “deep and commanding,” evidence that the recent performances were not being treated as a ceremonial lap through old hits.
Her best-known single, “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll,” spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982. Jett and the Blackhearts were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, recognizing a career built on both commercial success and her influence as a woman leading a hard-rock band.
That history also explains why the cancellations carry emotional weight for audiences. Jett has remained a working live performer rather than an artist who appears only for occasional retrospectives. A forced pause after surgery is therefore more than a diary adjustment, even if only two dates are currently affected.
The Blackhearts recently lost drummer Thommy Price
The health announcement also follows a difficult period for the wider Blackhearts family. Drummer Thommy Price, known for his work with Jett and Billy Idol, died on October 10, 2025, aged 68.
Legacy reported that Price joined the Blackhearts in 1986 and appeared on eight studio albums through 2016. During the band’s 2015 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, Jett called him “the heartbeat, the pulse, the roaring compulsion” of the group for 32 years.
After his death, she shared a performance montage and wrote: “We lost a member of the Blackheart family, the one of a kind Thommy Price.” She described him as “a drummer’s drummer” who was admired by many, adding that the band’s hearts were heavy.
For now, Jett’s own next step is physical therapy. Her team has offered no target date for returning to the stage, and no further medical information has been made public. The only firm message is that she intends to perform again, once her doctors and recovery allow it.
