Selena Gomez cancels Australia tour to 'spend time on myself'

Reuters
The wax figure of singer and actress Selena Gomez is pictured after it was unveiled at Madame Tussauds museum in Hollywood, California December 19, 2013. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop singer Selena Gomez on Thursday canceled her upcoming Australian concert tour, saying she needs to take the time to put herself before work. The 21-year-old former Disney star was to perform five concerts in Australia, beginning on February 1, 2014, in Perth and concluding on February 8 in Melbourne. "My fans are so important to me and I would never want to disappoint them," the "Come & Get It" singer said in a statement. "But it has become clear to me and those close to me that after many years of putting my work first, I need to spend some time on myself in order to be the best person I can be." Texas-born Gomez, who has also branched into serious film roles, is set to tour Asia in January. (Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Mary Milliken and Eric Walsh)