Bret Michaels axes all planned tour dates to recover from surgery

Poison’s Bret Michaels has cancelled all of his planned solo shows so that he can recover from recent surgery.

Back in June, the singer played three live dates in the US, where he claimed to be in “intense” pain due to a kidney stone. After the final of the three dates, held in Washington, he was quickly rushed to hospital and underwent surgery to remove the kidney stone and have a ureteral stent placed.

He later shared an update with fans, writing that the “operation has been done” and he was “out of post-op recovery, doing everything within my power to feel better”. He also added that would “continue playing great shows for great fans when I’ve got a complete clean bill of health.”

On Friday (August 21), he returned to the stage for his first show since the surgery, playing in Sugar Hill, Georgia. However, following that gig, he has now cancelled all other scheduled dates for the rest of the year.

The decision, a new statement on Instagram shares, is to allow him to properly recover from his operations.

“Following Bret Michaels’ comeback show, doctors and paramedics determined immediately after the show that he still needs additional rest and recovery from his recent surgeries,” it read. “Bret will be taking the next several months off to heal and get back to 100 per cent.”

Also in the post, Michaels’ physicians shared their own statement, writing: “We will be pulling Bret off the road for the time being. He wanted to attempt this show, but we feel there is a much-needed period of rest and slow recovery ahead, especially considering the heat and humidity during the summer months and the effect it can have on his blood sugar levels.”

Remaining shows on the 2026 ‘Bret Michaels Live And Amplified’ tour included stops in Texas, Ohio, Vancouver and Minnesota.

When he first shared news of his surgery, Michaels wrote that he was grateful for the help and support he had received, and “wise enough to know how important family, friends, fans, doctors and nurses play such a vital role in our everyday health.”

The ‘80s icon has a biopic and biography on the way later this year, titled Unbroken: Then, Now and Forever.

Earlier this summer, Michaels was listed alongside Milli Vanilli and The Commodores as those set to perform at Donald Trump‘s Freedom 250 celebration at the Great American State Fair.

He, among many others, would eventually pull out of the performance, and in his statement he wrote that it was a “difficult decision” to make.

“When this opportunity was originally presented to my team, it was described as a celebration of our country through music and a chance to honour our veterans, active military, first responders, teachers, and hardworking Americans from all walks of life,” he wrote. He said the show “evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of.”