Jerry Lee Lewis ‘Heading in the Right Direction’ After Stroke, But Canceling Shows

Jerry Lee Lewis is "heading in the right direction" after his late-February stroke, a doctor says, but he still needs to cancel some upcoming shows. A representative shared the news in a statement on Monday night (March 18).

Lewis suffered a minor stroke on the evening of Feb. 28 and spent two weeks in the hospital. Now, he's been transferred to a rehabilitation center. His neurologist, Dr. Rohini Bhole, M.D., says that Lewis "is expected to fully recover with aggressive and intensive rehab."

However, because of his rehab schedule, Lewis is cancelling is April 28 appearance at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, a May 18 show at Knoxville, Tenn.'s Tennessee Theatre and a June 8 concert at Alexandria, Va.'s The Birchmere. His next scheduled show is on July 1 at Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center, a concert that was rescheduled from December due to "doctor's orders."

Lewis, 83, is a Louisiana native who learned to play the piano at the age of 9 and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 1986. He is a prolific recording artist who has released dozens of studio and live albums, including 2006's Last Man Standing, which includes a bevy of star-studded cameos from the likes of Mick Jagger, Willie Nelson, Little Richard and many others.

An influential figure in the rockabilly genre, Lewis is best known for songs such as "Great Balls of Fire," "Breathless" and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On." The press release containing the statement on his health notes that he's working on a gospel record.

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