Grammys 2016: Rihanna cancels performance to avoid damaging her voice

R&B superstar Rihanna abruptly cancelled her performance at 58th Grammys Awards on Tuesday morning. The singer’s publicist said Rihanna was at risk of damaging her vocal cords.

R&B superstar Rihanna abruptly cancelled her performance at 58th Grammys Awards on Tuesday morning. The singer’s publicist said Rihanna was examined after rehearsal on Sunday and a doctor put her on vocal rest for 48 hours because she was at risk of damaging her vocal cords.

Rihanna, her mother Monica Fenty (L) and her brother Rajad Fenty arrive to the red carpet before the Fenty PUMA by Rihanna Fall/Winter 2016 collection show during New York Fashion Week on February 12.(REUTERS)

Rihanna was spotted entering the Staples Center in Los Angeles, but the ceremony went ahead, skipping her performance. A schedule for the telecast had stated that Rihanna, who is promoting a new album, would perform her song Kiss It Better.

She was scheduled to be introduced by late-night host James Corden and perform Kiss It Better early in the show but her slot was skipped. She apologised for the cancellation and tweeted, “#NAVY so sorry I couldn’t be there ..... Thanks Grammys and CBS for your support tonight.”

Rihanna appeared at a pre-Grammy tribute to Lionel Richie on Saturday night, singing his hit Say You, Say Me.

Rihanna performs Say You, Say Me at the 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year gala in Los Angeles (California) February 13. (REUTERS)

The celebrity news website TMZ said she was suffering bronchitis and decided to drop the performance to avoid damaging her voice. She had been on antibiotics ahead of the show but her publicist says her doctor concluded her condition hadn’t improved enough by Monday night.

Read: Latest updates from Grammys 2016

Rihanna is scheduled to open a world tour later this month. A representative for the Barbados-born singer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In one of the most notorious incidents in recent Grammy history, Rihanna was forced to cancel her performance in 2009 after she was beaten up by her then boyfriend, rapper Chris Brown, who later pleaded guilty to a felony.

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