Dionne Warwick, 85, reportedly recovering after canceling Carnegie Hall show due to health issue
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Dionne Warwick is recovering after a health concern forced her to cancel a scheduled performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She was due to appear at the ‘Deborah Silver & Fabulous Friends: Voices for ALS’ benefit on Sunday, October 11, but was unable to perform because she was not feeling well.
Her longtime publicist, Angelo Ellerbee, confirmed on October 13 that Warwick was “doing fine.”
Dionne Warwick explains why she had to cancel her Carnegie Hall performance
Warwick was scheduled to perform at Zankel Hall during the ‘Deborah Silver & Fabulous Friends: Voices for ALS’ charity benefit. However, the five-time Grammy winner had to withdraw from the event because of pain affecting her leg and foot, which prevented her from standing or walking.
In a statement to Page Six, Warwick apologized for missing the performance and expressed regret over losing the opportunity to meet her fans at Carnegie Hall. “I’m sorry to have had to cancel the chance to see you all at Carnegie,” she said.
Warwick, who is 85, explained that her condition left her with no choice but to cancel her appearance. “My leg and foot would not allow me to stand nor walk at the moment,” she said, adding, “Due to the pain, I just couldn’t do anything other than cancel my appearance this time, as I focus on rest and recovering from it.”
The singer also asked for understanding and grace, clarifying that the pain and her inability to stand or walk were the only reasons for her absence. Warwick has performed at Carnegie Hall several times throughout her historic career.
Following her cancellation, cabaret veteran Marilyn Maye answered Deborah Silver’s call and filled in for her at the benefit. Maye took the stage alongside Jon Secada, his daughter Mikaela Secada and jazz singer Stella Cole.
Silver and her husband funded the event's expenses, including venue rental, production costs and performer expenses, to ensure that every dollar from ticket sales went towards ALS research. All the artists donated their time to support the cause.
Dionne Warwick underwent emergency leg surgery in 2025
Warwick's latest health concern follows an emergency leg surgery she underwent in September 2025 after experiencing what she described as “unbearable” pain. The procedure led to the cancellation of scheduled performances, including her appearance at the Soul Town Festival in London.
In a Facebook post on September 2, 2025, Warwick explained that she had not expected to undergo surgery on the day she was supposed to fly to London. “The last thing I expected was to have surgery the day I was to fly to London,” she wrote. “Pain was unbearable and my doctor rushed me into surgery thank goodness, as it could’ve resulted in something far worse.”
At the time, Warwick had assured her fans that she was recovering well following the procedure. Her latest cancellation again means she must focus on rest and recovery before returning to the stage.
Despite the health concerns, Warwick's musical legacy spans several decades, with celebrated songs including ‘Walk On By,’ ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ and ‘Do You Know the Way to San Jose?’ The singer was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024, recognising her enduring contribution to music.
Warwick's absence from the Carnegie Hall benefit marks another interruption to her performances as she deals with her leg and foot pain. Her publicist's latest update, however, indicates that she is doing fine as she continues her recovery.
