Stevie Nicks cancels all 2021 concert dates due to Delta variant

Stevie Nicks has withdrawn from all upcoming concert appearances due to the spread of the Delta variant.

The 73-year-old rock legend was slated to headline the Jazz Aspen Festival and BottleRock Napa Valley early next month, with Chris Stapleton announced as her replacement her for the latter.

Nicks was also scheduled to perform both weekends at Austin City Limits in October, but the Texas festival has yet to announce a new artist to step in her shoes. The Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter was also on the bill for the New Orleans Jazz Fest, but the event was canceled the other day.

“These are challenging times with challenging decisions that have to be made,” Nicks said in a statement. “I want everyone to be safe and healthy, and the rising Covid-19 cases should be of concern to all of us. While I’m vaccinated, at my age, I am still being extremely cautious and for that reason have decided to skip the five performances I had planned for 2021.”

“Because singing and performing have been my whole life, my primary goal is to keep healthy so I can continue singing for the next decade or longer,” she continued. “I’m devastated and I know the fans are disappointed, but we will look toward a brighter 2022.”

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— Stevie Nicks (@StevieNicks) August 10, 2021

As the Delta variant spreads around the world, many acts and festivals have either canceled or postponed their plans. Some events will require proof of vaccine or a negative Covid-19 test, but numerous live music events have continued in the UK and mainland Europe - Latitude festival, for example.

Nicks released a new song back in advance of the presidential election last year called 'Show Them the Way,' featuring Dave Grohl on drums and Greg Kurstin producing.

“I hope that this song and its words will be seen as a prayer — a prayer for our country, and a prayer for the world. It’s a pretty heavy song,” she told Variety at the time.

“I hope people understand that it’s nonpartisan — that it’s not for Republicans, it’s not for Democrats. It’s meant to be a moment of peace for everyone, and… you know the silly thing where people say ‘Can’t everybody just get along?’ It’s like, can we just figure a way out of this horrific thing that we have walked into? That’s why I released this now."