Prayers are up for TLC’s Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins as the legendary singer recovers from a sickle cell crisis that forced her to miss several stops on the It’s Iconic Tour.
Source: Rich Polk / Getty
TLC is currently on the road alongside fellow ’90s icons Salt N Pepa and En Vogue for the nationwide tour, which kicked off in August and is scheduled to continue through October. Unfortunately, fans began noticing T-Boz was absent from recent performances, leaving her longtime groupmate Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas to hold things down solo.
TLC representative Christal Jordan gave USA Today an update on T-Boz’s condition, confirming that the 56-year-old singer needed medical care following a sickle cell flare-up.
“Tionne recently experienced a sickle cell crisis that required hospitalization, and she is currently recovering and regaining her strength,” the TLC rep said. “Because the It’s Iconic Tour is such an interactive show, we made the decision to continue, with Chilli performing and receiving incredible support from Salt-N-Pepa, En Vogue, and most importantly, the fans.”
During TLC’s August 28 show in Connecticut, Chilli addressed her sister’s absence directly and asked the crowd to help her keep the TLC energy alive.
“So, obviously, my sister is not here right now, she, um, she has sickle cell,” Chilli said. “She’s so much better… I’m going to ask each and every one of you to help me hold her down tonight.”
The timing also brings extra attention to T-Boz’s longtime health battle because September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that can cause red blood cells to become hard and crescent-shaped, potentially blocking blood flow and triggering severe pain, anemia, organ damage, and other serious complications. The condition is not contagious, and there is currently no universal cure, although treatment options have continued to advance, according to Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc.
T-Boz has lived with sickle cell anemia since childhood and has been candid over the years about doctors once telling her she might not live past 30. Her health journey has remained part of her story throughout her career, including in her 2013 reality series Totally T-Boz.
She has also been forced to step away from performances because of health issues before, making her latest hospitalization especially concerning for longtime fans.
And the prayers are coming from more than just the TLC family.
Jodeci member Dalvin DeGrate, better known as Mr. Dalvin, shared a heartfelt video asking fans to lift T-Boz up as she recovers.
“Hey, what’s up, everybody? I just wanted to ask everybody to just take a second to pray for our dear friend, T-Boz from TLC,” he said. “We know that she has crises sometimes… She’s my dear friend…. I’m asking you, everybody, under the sound of my voice, to ask God to touch her and heal her, um, that she may have a speedy recovery…. We all love you, and we all appreciate you.”
T-Boz and Mr. Dalvin dated during the ’90s, but clearly the love and concern between longtime friends remains.
For now, Chilli is continuing to represent TLC onstage while T-Boz focuses on regaining her strength.
Because the tour can wait. Health comes first.
We’re sending love, healing, and plenty of prayers T-Boz’s way.
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