Lady A cancels first concert of tour after bandmember's hospitalization for appendicitis

Country trio Lady A was planning to play their first concert in 16 months over the weekend, but as the group's Charles Kelley puts it, "the ol’ appendix had other plans."

Kelley was hospitalized for appendicitis last week, forcing Lady A to cancel its Saturday appearance at Lakefront Music Fest in Minnesota.

"The minute he is cleared by his doctors, we will be back on the road to see y'all," bandmates Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood said in a note to their fans.

On Sunday, Kelley checked in via social media from the hospital, saying he was "so bummed to have missed performing our first show back in Minnesota, not to mention in 16 months - that’s an understatement."

"...(I) didn't even know what an appendix was until Friday when it sent me to the ER. Love y’all and be back soon enough."

Lady A name change: Former Lady Antebellum will continue going by Lady A after apologizing to singer with the same name

Last month, Lady A released the new album "What a Song Can Do (Chapter One)," and their 2021 tour is set to continue with two nights at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, Texas on July 16-17.

"What a Song Can Do (Chapter One)" is also the first album the group has released since shortening their name from Lady Antebellum last year. That move led to an ongoing dispute with Seattle blues singer Anita White, who has been performing as "Lady A" since the 1990s.

In June 2020, the group formerly known as Lady Antebellum announced their name change, saying it was renouncing antebellum, a term used particularly to describe existing before the American Civil War.

In a statement posted to social media, the band said that when Lady A formed, the group didn't consider the pre-Civil War "associations that weigh down this word," including ties to slavery.

"We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued," the band's statement said. "Causing pain was never our hearts' intention, but it doesn't change the fact that indeed, it did just that. So today, we speak up and make a change."

Contributing: Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Lady A concert canceled, Charles Kelley hospitalized for appendicitis