Rod Stewart Replaces Aretha Franklin On 2018 New Orleans Jazz Festival Lineup

Organizers of the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival announced Rod Stewart will appear in place of Aretha Franklin at the upcoming event. Jazz Fest is slated to take place April 27 – 29 and May 3 – 6 at the New Orleans Fair Grounds.

Marking his first Jazz Fest appearance since 2007, Stewart will now headline in place of Franklin on Saturday, April 28. Franklin’s management issued the following statement regarding her cancellation:

Aretha Franklin has been ordered by her doctor to stay off the road and rest completely for at least the next two months. She is extremely disappointed she cannot perform at this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival as she had expected and hoped to.

The Jazz Fest 2018 lineup includes Aerosmith, Sting, Jimmy Buffett and his Acoustic Airmen, Jack White, Beck, Lionel Richie, David Byrne, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Revivalists, Steve Miller Band, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Toots & The Maytals, Aaron Neville, Jon Batiste with The Dap-Kings, Blind Boys of Alabama, John Mayall, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Galactic, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Rebirth Brass Band, Tank and the Bangas, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Soul Rebels and scores of others. View the full lineup and schedule here.

Tickets to Jazz Fest are on sale via Ticketmaster.