Sad news for country fans. On Friday, Florida Georgia Line announced that their I Love My Country tour has been canceled due to concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The 29-date arena and amphitheater tour was set to kick off on Sept. 24 at the Cellairis Amphitheater in Atlanta.
American Idol season 10 runner-up Lauren Alaina was set to open for the band. The tour was scheduled to run from September to the end of November.
“While we’ve been able to see some of y’all at shows recently, everyone’s continued safety has been weighing heavy on us. We’re so bummed to have to cancel this tour, but we love y’all and can’t wait to be back out when the time is right,” the group tweeted.
The band followed up with instructions on how to obtain a refund. “For all current ticket holders, refunds will be issued to the original method of payment used at time of purchase. No action is required to obtain a refund.”
While we’ve been able to see some of y’all at shows recently, everyone’s continued safety has been weighing heavy on us. We’re so bummed to have to cancel this tour, but we love y’all and can’t wait to be back out when the time is right. pic.twitter.com/pSJSHVYzUS
— Florida Georgia Line (@FLAGALine) August 20, 2021
Lauren Alaina: A new album, but no tour
Unfortunately, the cancellation leaves Lauren without a tour to support her upcoming album On Top of the World, due out on September 3. Perhaps, for the fall, she can book solo shows in smaller, safer venues.
Florida Georgia Line isn’t the first to cancel fall dates. In the past week, Garth Brooks cancelled his stadium tour due to Covid concerns. And Viacom pulled the plug on Vidcon, the massive social media influencer convention, originally scheduled for October.
UPDATE: Lauren responds on Twitter
Lauren posted a message to her fans on social media about the cancelled tour. She is understandably disappointed: “As you may know by now, the I Love My Country Tour with Florida Georgia Line for this fall has been cancelled. I have been so looking forward to seeing you all back out on the road. Thank you to everyone who bought tickets and to those of you who bought VIP meet and greets. It means the world to me. I promise to see you soon. Please be safe. Stay healthy.”
— Lauren Alaina (@Lauren_Alaina) August 21, 2021
Concerts are still happening everywhere, but that could change
So far, concerts are still happening at venues everywhere. But it appears that artists are re-thinking whether to move forward with shows that amass big crowds such as those that take place in stadiums, convention halls and arenas.
Additionally, if even one band or crew member becomes COVID-19 infected, that shuts the entire production down, at least for awhile. For instance, as American Idol season 7 winner, David Cook rehearsed for a show in Utah earlier this month, a sick crew member precipitated cancelation of the show.
Last minute cancellations could become more and more common as the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant rips through the United States, causing more infection even among the vaccinated.
