Phoebe Bridgers Cancels U.K. Shows After Appendicitis Diagnosis

Phoebe Bridgers has canceled her upcoming U.K. shows after being diagnosed with appendicitis.

The singer shared the news on Instagram Stories on Wednesday, Aug. 19, posting a photo of herself in a hospital with an IV in her arm. “I got appendicitis for my birthday,” Bridgers wrote.

The diagnosis came shortly after her 32nd birthday on Aug. 17 and means she will not be able to perform her scheduled U.K. concerts. Bridgers apologized to fans and promised that she would “make it up to” those who had tickets.

Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed. It commonly causes pain in the lower-right side of the abdomen and can require urgent medical treatment. Treatment may include antibiotics, although surgery to remove the appendix is often needed.

The health scare came during an otherwise significant week for Bridgers. Her new album, Lost Weekend, has received praise from fellow singer Taylor Swift, who celebrated Bridgers’ birthday by sharing her reaction to the record on Instagram.

“It’s her birthday, but she gave us a gift,” Swift wrote. “Haven’t been able to stop listening. This album is an absolute triumph in every way.”

Swift also praised Bridgers for writing about grief with “such vulnerability and detail” and expressed her love for the singer.

The two artists have worked together before. Bridgers appeared on Swift’s 2021 song “Nothing New,” which was released on Red (Taylor’s Version). In a 2021 interview with Billboard, Bridgers described collaborating with Swift as a “dream” and praised her as “an incredible businessperson and an incredible writer.”

Bridgers has also opened for Swift during several dates of the Eras Tour.

Just days before her hospitalization, Swift and Bridgers were both guests at the Aug. 15 wedding of producers Oli Jacobs and Laura Sisk in the U.K. The ceremony was held at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios near Bath, Gloucestershire. Sabrina Carpenter and Jack Antonoff were also among the guests.

For now, Bridgers is focused on recovering. While fans will have to wait for the rescheduled U.K. performances, the singer has indicated that she intends to make it up to those affected by the cancellations.