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Country music star Mark Chesnutt was hospitalised moments before he was due to perform on stage on Thursday. The singer and songwriter, known for tracks including Bubba Shot the Jukebox, Too Cold at Home and Brother Jukebox, was preparing to open for the band Alabama at the Raising Cane's River Center in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana, when he fell ill.

The 62-year-old was taken to the hospital "for medical reasons," the venue said, without providing further details on his condition. In an interview earlier this year, Mark opened up about a series of health issues he has faced in recent years.

According to ABC affiliate WBRX News 2, Mark's band went ahead with the performance on October 16 despite his absence. The musician remained to the hospital on Friday while undergoing tests for "low sodium count and extreme high blood pressure," Tony Conway, the head of Mark's management team, confirmed to The Express US.

The singer was due to perform at the One Portales Wine, Beer, and Music Festival in New Mexico on Saturday, but Eastern New Mexico University announced the show had been cancelled. The venue wrote on Instagram, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mark Chesnutt will no longer be able to perform at the One Portales Wine, Beer, and Music Festival.

"We unfortunately will have to cancel the event. Refunds will be emailed to all ticket buyers in the upcoming days."

They added, "We apologise for this cancellation and hope to bring another high-quality act to Portales in the future."

Mark's hospitalisation comes after he suffered a series of health issues in recent years, which led to him taking some time off in November 2023.

In June 2024, he underwent emergency quadruple bypass surgery, which meant he had to cancel some shows including his performance at Dauphin's Countryfest.

He returned to the stage in October 2024 and performed at the Songs and Stories of Dean Dillon concert in Alabama.

In a new interview with American Songwriter earlier this year, the country star spoke candidly about the series of serious health issues he's faced in recent years, including a fractured spine, alcohol addiction, and a near-fatal heart condition.

Describing the spinal surgery he had to undergo, he said, "It was getting worse and worse, and my surgery was a major, major one. I couldn't work. I was laid up, didn't drive, couldn't walk, couldn't do anything."

With touring on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic and throughout his recovery, he turned to alcohol addiction.

"I drank all day, every day," he said. He described waking up in the middle of the night just to keep drinking, adding, "I just took it to the extreme, and it about killed me."

He was eventually taken to the hospital "on the edge of cardiac arrest" and doctors told him he wouldn't have survived much longer without treatment. "I had to quit drinking, or die," he said.