It’s vocal cords’ rest time for Kehlani!
The singer recently announced that, due to a health issue that suddenly sprang up, she would be sitting out two of her scheduled shows.
This comes over a year after Kehlani Ashley Parrish, known mononymously as Kehlani, revealed her bipolar disorder diagnosis. Since coming out with the mental health issue, she has spoken about how she keeps herself in check and manages the condition.
Kehlani shared an update that fans who were probably already counting down the days to her next two shows were not expecting. The singer revealed via an Instagram post that her health had taken a low blow, and after being examined, she was not cleared by medical personnel to sing.
She detailed that after her two off days, during which she felt “completely normal,” she suddenly was unable to swallow and was in so much pain. The discomfort kept the “Folded” hitmaker up all night, and she had to go to the hospital.
Kehlani dropped the bombshell, apologizing to her fans in Camden & DC because she was “not cleared to sing for the next two shows.” The musician noted that her team is working on a solution, adding that canceling the shows was no easy decision for her.
Fans’ Mixed Reaction To The Songwriter’s Health Update
“I do everything I’m supposed to to ensure my health stays up to par & it still isn’t guaranteed,” she wrote before informing fans that the next time she will be on stage will be in Virginia. Kehlani’s post was a slideshow with two images of an exam room at the hospital.
Fans were split over the singer’s comments, with some offering thoughts and prayers and others expressing their disappointment. “Kehlani, I love you, but the show was supposed to start in like 3-4 hours,” a fan wrote, with others replying that her move was “so unprofessional.”
Several fans wrote about how they had prepared to attend the show by traveling out of town, taking time off work, or working an extra shift to make up for their planned absence. Some netizens asked if they could switch their tickets to attend her Virginia show, while others requested refunds since Kehlani did not address the topic in her statement.
On the other hand, supporters expressed concern for the artist, writing “Get well soon, love,” “Sending love and healing, Keh,” while others advised her to rest. A few comments were from internet users who dropped home remedies for a sore throat while wishing her a speedy recovery.
Kehlani Detailed The Routine She Follows To Manage Her Bipolar Disorder
In April 2025, Kehlani revealed that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Living with the condition, it is apparent that she stays on top of her mental health. The songwriter recently detailed the non-negotiables she lives by to maintain balance with her condition in a Billboard cover story.
“I take medicine. I have to go to the gym; it’s not an option,” she noted, adding that she takes walks, does yoga, and spends ample time in nature. “[I] sit in the park or go wiggle my toes in somebody’s grass. I have to build a relationship with God. I have to pray.”
Kehlani disclosed that sticking to a routine is necessary largely because of her career in the music industry. She noted that with the hard work she puts into creating music and building her career, she can only survive by keeping to “a routine supporting my wellness.”
The ‘Folded’ Vocalist’s Activism Led To A Canceled Performance
Kehlani was scheduled to perform at Cornell University’s annual Slope Day on May 7 last year. Less than a month before the performance, the institution released a statement that her concert was canceled over her past pro-Palestine statements.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cornell President Michael I. Kotlikoff wrote in a letter to the student body, addressing the issue. The letter claimed that plans for Kehlani’s presence at the event had “injected division and discord” among the students.
Kotlikoff also alleged in the letter that several students had expressed that they were “angry, hurt and confused that Slope Day would feature a performer who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos and on social media.”
The letter also noted that every artist has the right to express “hateful views,” but Slope Day was about celebrating unity in the community and not division.
Kehlani Was Vocal About Her Support For Palestine
The mom of one showed her support for Palestine on public platforms and even through her music. In a music video for her song “Next 2 U,” she began the video with “Long Live the Intifada,” before dancing and singing in front of a Palestinian flag in some of the scenes.
During the 2025 American Music Awards, she spoke about the violence in Gaza on the red carpet. She said supporting the “Free Palestine” movement should come as second nature to all, as many innocent lives were killed. Kehlani received backlash for her comments, especially on social media, where users labeled her as “a Nazi” and “a moron.”
The Blast reported that the former Poplyfe member clarified that she is not “anti-Semitic nor anti-Jew”; however, she is against the extermination of an entire people as well as the bombing of innocent children, women, and men.
Get well soon, Kehlani!