Mark Chestnutt hospitalized in Louisiana before concert | Entertainment/Life

Country singer-songwriter Mark Chestnutt remains in a Baton Rouge hospital on Friday after being admitted on Thursday morning soon after his plane landed in Louisiana.

Chestnutt was scheduled to open for veteran country artists Alabama at a concert at the Raising Cane’s River Center Arena on Thursday night. Chestnutt’s band, New South Band, went on as scheduled, with another band member on vocals. 

“He is still there for testing on a low-sodium count and very high blood pressure,” according to his publicist Don Murry Grubbs.

Grubb said Chestnutt’s show on Saturday night in Portales, New Mexico, has been canceled and there’s no news on any other future shows being affected.

“Mark wants to apologize to the fans who came to see him last night and also to those who had planned to see him tomorrow in New Mexico,” Grubbs said. “He hopes to be back in both cities in the very near future.”

Tour personnel requested that the River Center post the following notice on all entrances before the show, according to Alysia Guin, director of marketing & partnerships at the River Center:

“Mark Chestnutt has been admitted to a local hospital for medical reasons. Fortunately, Mark Chestnutt’s band will perform in his place at 7 p.m. Thank you, Alabama.”

Chestnutt, 62, was forced to cancel shows in June 2024 after undergoing an emergency quadruple bypass surgery.

His top hits include “Bubba Shot the Jukebox,” “Brother Jukebox,” “Too Cold at Home,” “It’s a Little Too Late” and “Blame It on Texas.”