Loretta Lynn Cancels Sept. 8 Show At Joliet's Rialto Square Theatre

JOLIET, IL - The struggling Rialto Square Theatre has suffered yet another programming blow. Theater officials announced on their website that 85-year-old music legend Loretta Lynn will not coming to downtown Joliet for her Friday, Sept. 8 performance. All of Lynn's 2017 tour dates are being canceled.

"I want to thank everyone for hanging in there with me," Lynn said in a statement posted on the Rialto's website. "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 ain't dead yet and neither am I, and I can't wait to see all of you on the road!"

A statement posted on the Rialto's website noted that Lynn suffered a stroke in May and that "per her doctor's orders, Loretta needs to continue to focus solely on making a full recovery."

If you had purchased tickets in advance to see the American country music legend in Joliet, don't fret. According to the Rialto, tickets bought from Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded to the purchaser's credit card. However, people who bought their tickets from the Rialto's box office need to show up in person to receive their refund.

The timing of Lynn's cancelation is not good news for Rialto. The theater has been under much scrutiny from the Joliet City Council this year, as city officials have implored the downtown entertainment venue to do a better job of bringing in all-ages shows and performers to Joliet. City council members have pointed out that a number of theater venues throughout the state are having much better success these days than the Rialto.

Image via Rialto Square Theatre