Heart's frontwoman, Ann Wilson, has disclosed a recent harrowing ordeal with a grave arm injury, amidst her valiant battle against cancer in 2024. During her podcast, "After Dinner Thinks With Ann Wilson," on March 10th, Wednesday, the 74-year-old joked, "It's not the cancer talking; it's just me being my clumsy self."
Ann embarked on Heart's latest reunion tour with her sister Nancy Wilson in February, after pressing pause on all live engagements last year to undergo chemotherapy for cancer. Ever since, Heart fans have been buzzing with conjecture about Ann's health, noting her presence in a wheelchair with her arm slinged during concerts. In the latest podcast episode, Ann confirmed that she had sustained an injury to her left arm just five days prior to Heart's tour opener in Las Vegas on February 28th.
"I missed a step and tumbled into a parking lot, shattering my elbow in three places," she recounted. "I had to undergo surgery to have my elbow pinned back together with screws and all sorts of hardware. Timing, huh? Otherwise, I'm in tip-top shape – it's just that I can't use my left arm at the moment."
Given her condition, Ann deemed it prudent to perform seated to avoid further harm to her elbow. "The pain is still excruciating, making it impossible to remove the sling," Wilson shared. "So, I chose to sit, allowing me to focus solely on singing without worrying about maintaining balance or needing someone to catch me if I sway."
The "Magic Man" singer expressed amusement at fans' speculation regarding her health due to her wheelchair use. "It seems to be viewed as a sign of vulnerability," she speculated. "People see it and immediately think, 'Oh, that's too bad,' bringing negativity into the picture. But it doesn't have to be like that. No, the wheelchair is a blessing in disguise. I'll be back on my feet in no time."
In July 2024, Ann announced a break from touring to recover from the removal of a cancerous tumor. "The surgery was a success, and I'm feeling fantastic, but my doctors advised a course of preventive chemotherapy, which I decided to undergo," she informed fans via social media. "As per my doctors' instructions, I'm taking the rest of the year off from performing to fully recuperate."
In a hopeful health update in September 2024, Ann acknowledged that "chemo is no laughing matter" but assured fans she was on the mend and would return to the stage in 2025. "[Chemo] saps a person's strength. And the two weeks of anxious waiting for test results are mentally torturous," she posted on Instagram. "For anyone who's been through it, I empathize deeply. Fortunately, my results were the good kind!"
Ann is doubling down on Heart's 2024 tour schedule, with exciting news that her An Evening With Heart Tour this spring and summer will feature two distinct sets. Next up for Heart are performances at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday, March 6th, and the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah, on Saturday, March 8th.
