Latest news with #TheMavericks
Extra.ie
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Huge country band forced to cancel tour as lead singer undergoes cancer treatment
Hugely popular country band The Mavericks have cancelled several upcoming shows while lead singer Raul Malo undergoes treatment for stage 4 cancer. The 'Dance the night away' star has pulled out of a scheduled appearance on board the 2026 Outlaw Country Cruise so that Malo can undergo hernia surgery linked to a previous cancer-related operation. 59-year-old Malo, who is a firm favourite on the touring circuit in Ireland, has been battling liver cancer for the past year and announced to his fans on his Instagram page that he would be taking a break from touring to concentrate on getting well. AUSTIN, TEXAS – MAY 18: Singer-songwriter Raul Malo of The Mavericks performs in concert at ACL Live on May 18, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by) In a statement on social media the band said that due to Raul's upcoming treatment, the Mavericks will no longer be a part of the Sandy Beaches Cruise 2026 as Raul will undergo hernia surgery next January to repair complications from previous surgery. The band are due to play a number of gigs across the United States in the run up to Christmas this year before taking a break in January to concentrate on Raul's health. 'The recovery time following this procedure will require us to take the first couple of months of 2026 off for him to rest and recuperate, and hopefully be the final hurdle in his cancer treatment.' AUSTIN, TEXAS – MAY 18: Musician Eddie Perez (L) and Raul Malo of The Mavericks perform in concert at ACL Live on May 18, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by) The band's statement continued, 'This decision was not made lightly, and we apologize for any disappointment or inconvenience this may cause. 'Your continued support means the world to us, and we are deeply grateful for your understanding during this time. The Mavericks have been a firm favourite on the country music circuit in Ireland with thousands of fans travelling to their concerts at various venues across the country. No gigs are scheduled for Ireland for the foreseeable future and their tour of the USA is continuing towards the end of this year.
Daily Mail
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Major country star forced to cancel shows after cancer diagnosis leads to health challenges
Country band The Mavericks have canceled several upcoming performances after lead singer Raul Malo continues treatment for stage 4 cancer. The group recently pulled out of their scheduled appearance aboard the 2026 Outlaw Country Cruise, with Raul, 59, preparing to undergo hernia surgery linked to previous cancer-related operations. 'Hey everyone, due to Raul's upcoming treatment schedule, The Mavericks will unfortunately no longer be a part of the Sandy Beaches Cruise 2026,' the band wrote in a recent Instagram post. 'Next January, Raul will undergo hernia surgery to repair complications from a previous operation. 'The recovery time following this procedure will require us to take the first couple months of 2026 off for him to rest and recuperate, and hopefully be the final hurdle in his cancer treatment.' It continued: 'This decision was not made lightly, and we apologize for any disappointment or inconvenience this may cause. 'Your continued support means the world to us, and we are deeply grateful for your understanding during this time. 'Thank you for your patience and kindness. We hope to sail with you all again soon.' And fans of the country star rushed in to offer their support by offering 'healing vibes' and prayers. 'Definitely a wise decision, and health is paramount. I wish you all the best, recovery, and good health,' someone wrote. Another said: 'Sending healing vibes to him. Glad I was able to see you guys earlier this month.' 'The right decision. Sending prayers of medical wisdom, comfort, and healing,' one user shared. 'We love you, Raul. All prayers and healing for your recovery. Always with you. And love to you all,' someone else wrote. 'Praying for a complete recovery for Raul,' a comment read. The cancellations are the latest in a series of schedule changes since Raul revealed his cancer diagnosis in June 2024. He initially revealed that doctors had discovered two cancerous spots in his gastrointestinal system. The singer later underwent liver surgery in December 2024 and was briefly hospitalized again in February 2025 due to complications from that procedure, prompting further cancellations at the time, per Despite the diagnosis, Raul has continued to perform when possible throughout 2024 and 2025. In April, he confirmed that the illness had progressed to stage 4, but reassured fans he was staying optimistic. The Mavericks, best known for their genre-blending hits like Dance the Night Away, have not yet announced whether other tour dates will be affected.
Metro
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Grammy-winning star battling cancer fears 'cruel' deportation under Trump law
Singer Raul Malo, who is best known as the frontman for The Mavericks, has raised concerns about his US citizenship under new laws. The Grammy-winning country singer was back on tour with his band, a year after being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment. Last July, they were forced to cancel gigs after Raul, 59, started chemotherapy, of which he had 16 rounds as per his latest update. While he's not 'out of the woods' yet, he is well enough for The Mavericks to return to touring — only to be faced with a new concern. Raul, who was born in the US, called out the 'cruelty and suffering being inflicted on the unsuspecting' after President Donald Trump's deportation bill was passed. 'Dear America, today is the day we celebrate you and what you used to stand for,' he said in a post on Instagram. 'The words 'liberty and justice for all' have faded into a distant past. 'To some of us those words were deeply personal. My family came here because of those words. I was born here because of those words. I have had an extraordinary life because of those words.' 'Now those words have lost their meaning,' stated Raul. 'They are now abstract concepts used to inflict cruelty and suffering on the unsuspecting, the weak, the sick, the poor, the needy.' He revealed that under the new law, he and his sister could be labelled 'illegal birthright citizens' if their mother is 'stripped of her naturalised citizenship'. Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' comes with a slew of tax cuts, benefitting the wealthiest while also boost funding for defence, border security and producing energy. The bill puts aside $45billion to detain undocumented people taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video It also means that immigrants — including refugees, asylees and victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence — may no longer qualify for federal benefits like Medicaid and food stamps. Addressing trolls who told him to 'shut up and sing', the 'Dance the Night Away hitmaker said: 'Well, clearly that's not happening. You see the thing is this is my country too. Always has been.' He concluded: 'This isn't about politics anymore. It's about humanity. It's about all of us. We, the people.' The week before, Raul had shared an update on his medical situation, posted a picture of himself in a hospital bed. 'First of all thank you to everyone for their kind wishes and support throughout all of this,' the There Goes My Heart singer wrote on Instagram. 'I thought I had everything under control. (Btw, that's just you lying to yourself) Then the cancer sideshows started to play out. 'My sinus infection literally brought me to my knees. I had never felt headaches like that. I went to a specialist. Got it taken care of but the residual results are a numbing of the left side of my face. Neurologist said it will repair over time. The damage is not permanent and not visible. A little drooling here and there…oh well. Perspective: I'm alive.' He also has an abdominal hernia, which is 'the most challenging', as it is 'very visible' and 'really painful' at times. More Trending '16 rounds of chemo have done what they're made to do…kill cancer,' Raul continued. 'I'm not out of the woods yet but I'm on my way.' He thanked his band for sticking by him, having reformed in 2012 after a short hiatus from 2003. The Mavericks were founded by Raul in 1992 with drummer Paul Deakin, and includes Eddie Perez on guitar and Jerry Dale McFadden on keyboards. They had breakout hits in the 90s, with single Here Comes the Rain securing a Grammy win alongside numerous nominations over the years. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Nato scrambles warplanes after Putin unleashes heaviest strikes of the war MORE: Trump complains about Putin's 'bulls***' during Ukraine peace talks MORE: Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu make me sick
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Country star battling cancer says he may be deported by Trump: 'This is my country too'
Country star Raul Malo made a serious statement as he said he may be deported by the Trump administration in the future. Over the weekend while celebrating the Fourth of July, the Mavericks lead singer shared his thoughts about what is happening in America. This comes a year after the frontman of the Grammy-winning band revealed his cancer diagnosis, sharing his prognosis after his band canceled several shows to support him during his treatment. While on tour with his country music band, Malo addressed the deportations and ICE raids happening in recent weeks in cities across the United States as he condemned the 'cruelty and suffering being inflicted on the unsuspecting.' He said that his mother 'could be stripped of her naturalized citizenship,' leaving him and his sister as 'illegal birthright citizens' to be deported under President Donald Trump 's new law. On Friday, Trump's Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law and allocates roughly $170 billion to support border control and immigration goals, per NPR, and the bill could create an influx of deportations as a result, according to Aljazeera. 'Dear America, today is the day we celebrate you and what you used to stand for. The words "liberty and justice for all" have faded into a distant past,' he began his lengthy post. 'To some of us those words were deeply personal. My family came here because of those words. I was born here because of those words. I have had an extraordinary life because of those words,' he continued. 'And now those words have lost their meaning.' Malo added: 'They are now abstract concepts used to inflict cruelty and suffering on the unsuspecting, the weak, the sick, the poor, the needy. We can add Purple Heart war veterans to that list as several have been deported already. This is America right now.' He said that his mother 'could be stripped of her naturalized citizenship' and his whole family could be deported. He also addressed trolls and said while he may be forced to leave 'whether I want to leave or not,' he will continue his passion for music and using his voice. 'Some will tell me that I should leave the country or my favorite "shut up and sing". (A statement so void of any sense that it is impossible to execute) On the "leaving" part…that may come true whether I want to leave or not. The way the new law stands my mother could be stripped of her naturalized citizenship, then my sister and I would be illegal birthright citizens and away we go.' 'As far as "shut up and sing," well, clearly that's not happening. You see the thing is this is my country too. Always has been,' he wrote before asking readers to 'think about what the Stars and Stripes mean to you.' He also asked people to consider 'the words that we're supposed to live by…The Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, our Bill of Rights' and to 'think about the food you're eating.' In his post, he said that his mother 'could be stripped of her naturalized citizenship,' leaving him and his sister as 'illegal birthright citizens' to be deported under President Donald Trump's new law 'Think about it. This isn't about politics anymore. It's about humanity. It's about all of us. We, the people. Happy Birthday America!' This comes days after he shared a health update following his cancer diagnosis last year. He revealed that he recently had a sinus infection that 'literally brought me to my knees' with the left side of his face left with temporary numbing. He also said that he has an abdominal hernia, which has been 'the most challenging in all of this' and is 'very visible ... really painful.' In his post, he went on to share with his fans that he will soon be undergoing colon surgery in August followed by another procedure later this year to repair the hernia. In spite of all of the 'challenges,' he said that he has completed 16 rounds of chemotherapy and continues to remind himself with the following message, 'Perspective: I'm alive.' He has previously kept his fans updated on his health with good news in March and also revealing he spent time in the hospital in January after the hernia developed. He also announced that same month that he had previously undergone surgery in December to remove a tumor from his liver. Last summer, he announced his cancer diagnosis on social media while on tour with his band, reminding his fans to get check-ups and take care of themselves. He said that while he and his bandmates have been on a 'health kick' while touring, he had a physical exam with a doctor, which 'led to another appointment with a gastrointestinal specialist, which led to a CAT scan. And that proved to show two cancerous spots.'
USA Today
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Willie Nelson cancels Outlaw Music Festival concert after 'extreme weather event'
Willie Nelson and his Outlaw Music Festival will have to wait a beat for their Sooner State debut. The country singer's long-running festival, which also features fellow music icon Bob Dylan, was forced to cancel its July 1 concert at the Lucky Star Amphitheater in El Reno, Oklahoma, "due to unforeseeable circumstances," according to a June 30 announcement on Nelson's social media pages. The Grammy-winning Americana band The Mavericks and New Zealand-based country singer-songwriter Tami Neilson were also set to perform on the Oklahoma tour stop. The cancellation comes after the festival encountered "an extreme weather event" on Sunday, June 29, at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri. The severe storms produced heavy rains and high winds, forcing the crowd to evacuate. 'I hated to lose him': Willie Nelson speaks out on bandmate Kris Kristofferson's death Much of the Outlaw Music Festival's equipment and musicians' instruments were damaged and waterlogged in the stormy weather, "making their condition difficult to assess in time to accurately and safely use" for the Oklahoma show, per the cancellation notice. "The potential damage has halted the festival production as they recover and replace what's necessary for the tour to resume," the post stated. "Blackbird Presents, Lucky Star Amphitheater, and DCF Concerts are disappointed to have to cancel the engagement and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this cancellation may cause." Refunds for the July 1 concert will be issued to the point of purchase, according to the announcement. Ticketholders are asked to allow seven to 10 business days for the refund to appear on their credit card statements. Willie Nelson concertgoers forced to evacuate in Missouri amid extreme storms Winds reached up to 80 mph during the June 29 storms in Missouri, according to the Springfield News-Leader, part of the USA TODAY Network. A 20-year-old woman was reportedly killed in a neighborhood southwest of Springfield after a large tree was blown over on top of her vehicle. Taney County Sheriff Brad Daniels told the publication that minor injuries were reported at the Thunder Ridge Nature Arena from tents in the high winds. According to social media posts, the venue was evacuated due to the severe weather at about 5:15 p.m., and the Outlaw Music Festival date was postponed at about 6:50 p.m. All previously purchased tickets will be honored once the new date is announced for the Missouri show, according to the announcements. The tour is set to resume Friday, July 4, at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater in Austin, Texas, as Nelson's Outlaw Music Festival converges with the Country Music Hall of Famer's annual Fourth of July Picnic and Fireworks. Willie Nelson's musical patriotism: Singer returns to the stage with Fourth of July Picnic after health concerns What is the Outlaw Music Festival? Nelson launched the Outlaw Music Festival in 2016 as a one-off event in Scranton, Pennsylvania, before taking the concept on the road the following year. Dylan was among the artists on the inaugural Outlaw fest tour, and the 2016 Nobel Prize winner rejoined the tour this year after the Oscar-nominated 2024 biopic "A Complete Unknown" renewed interest in his music. As it celebrates its impending 10th anniversary, the Outlaw Music Festival is billed as "a hallmark of authentic Americana music" that has developed into one of North America's largest annual touring franchises. Still led by Nelson, the festival unites music legends with contemporary superstars to celebrate the outlaw spirit and genre-defying music. 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé The 2025 tour is the largest Outlaw trek to date, with the lineup including Nelson and his family, Dylan, Sheryl Crow, The Mavericks, Neilson, Billy Strings and The Red Clay Strays. Other featured acts include Turnpike Troubadours, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, The Avett Brothers, Wilco, Lake Street Dive, Waxahatchee, Charles Wesley Godwin, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, Trampled by Turtles, Sierra Hull, Willow Avalon, Waylon Payne, Madeline Edwards, Lily Meola and Myron Elkins. The tour launched May 13 at the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix and is scheduled to make more than 30 stops across 20-plus states before wrapping up Sept. 19 at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin.
