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Brenton Harris

"It is most unlikely that I’ll ever sound like myself again. I consider myself lucky that this is not life-threatening, though the loss in my own small world is staggering."

Celebrated, Grammy Award-winning folk songwriter Janis Ian has cancelled all upcoming dates on her farewell tour.

Pitchfork are reporting that Ian has been forced to cancel the tour due to scarring to her vocal cords.  Ian released a statement confirming the cause for the cancellation revealing that the scarring is the result of a bad case of laryngitis and that she may not ever be able to sing the same way again

"It is with unfathomable sadness that I announce the cancellation of all upcoming tour dates. Unfortunately, the laryngitis that forced the postponement of some spring dates has turned out to be more complicated than a simple, treatable laryngitis. There is vocal fold scarring; the doctors can only speculate as to why, but treatments are very limited. And it would be many months before we’d know the outcome of any treatment. It is most unlikely that I’ll ever sound like myself again. I consider myself lucky that this is not life-threatening, though the loss in my own small world is staggering. Thank you all for your support and love. Janis" 

The farewell tour was supposed to be a joyous goodbye for the artist responsible for the iconic track At Seventeen and followed the release of her recent full-length The Light at the End of the Line. Intended to be her final release, Ian revealed to American Songwriter why it was time to step away from the craft that made her a household name.  "I’m 71 this year, and there are a multitude of reasons to stop,” Ian told American Songwriter. “I would like to spend time writing. And I would like to spend time with my family. I’d like to do a bunch of other things, so having a full tilt career doesn’t allow for any of that right now. I’ve been doing it for so long now.”

Ian's career has spanned a staggering 60 years. She recorded her 1965 debut single Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking) when she was just 14-years-old. Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking) has since been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame as a work of historical importance. Ian's biggest hits are At Seventeen, and Fly Too High with At Seventeen securing her place in history thanks to strong chart performance and a Best Pop Vocal Performance Grammy win. 

 Footage of Ian playing a four-song set, recorded for World Cafe can be seen below.