Fans of platinum-selling girl group TLC are sending well wishes to member T-Boz after she missed recent performances due to a medical emergency.
The singer, whose real name is Tionne Watkins, and her group member Chilli are currently on the It's Iconic tour with Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue
. Videos circulating online show Chilli performing their hits, such as "No Scrubs" and "Ain't 2 Proud to Beg," solo at their dates in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.In the clips, Chili explained her bandmates' absences, telling the crowd that T-Boz is dealing with a sickle cell flare-up. "I'm going to ask each and every one of you to help me hold her down tonight," she said in a video posted on TikTok from their Aug. 28 concert. Christal Jordan, a rep
for TLC, told USA TODAY in a statement on Wednesday, Sept. 2, that T-Boz was hospitalized but is recovering.
"Tionne recently experienced a sickle cell crisis that required hospitalization, and she is currently recovering and regaining her strength," the statement 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."
"The love shown for T-Boz has been overwhelming. Hearing audiences sing her parts, lift her up in prayer, and surround TLC with so much love has meant more than we can express. Sickle cell is a serious illness, so we ask everyone to please keep the prayers coming as Tionne continues to recover. We are immensely grateful for the love and support.”
USA TODAY also reached out to Live Nation for comment.
Jodeci member asks fans to lift T-Boz in prayer
Dalvin DeGrate, a member of the R&B group Jodeci,posted a video on his Instagram page on Monday, Sept. 1, asking people to keep T-Boz in their prayers.
"She's my dear friend. I want everybody to just take a second to say a prayer for her that God will heal her body and strengthen her so that she can return and do what she loves to do and be at peace and in good health," DeGrate said. "Let T-Boz know that we all love you and we all appreciate you and get well fast. We love you, T-Boz."
DeGrate's comment section was filled with heartfelt messages for the artist. Grammy-nominated songstress Nicci Gilbert wrote, "We love you @therealtboz. You Got This." Singers Ginuwine and Nivea shared the prayer emojis.
Fans chimed in too.
"Will say a prayer for her that God will heal her and that she will be performing Chilli soon (and) be home with family," one person wrote. Another said, "We love you T Boz and God loves you even more! May he cover you and heal you completely!"
T-Boz was born with sickle cell anemia
T-Boz, 56, wasborn with sickle cell anemia, a genetic disorder that alters the ability of red blood cells to deliver oxygen to every part of the body. Normal daily activities such as climbing stairs can trigger a pain crisis because the sickled red blood cells can't carry oxygen efficiently.
The artist has often shared details of her health battle and has been hospitalized throughout her career. She spoke about it in 2017 on "Good Morning America" amid the release of her memoir "A Sick Life: TLC 'n Me: Stories from On and Off the Stage." She told journalist Robin Roberts, "I went through so much."
"I was told at 7 years old I would never live past 30. I would be disabled my whole life and never have kids," she recalled, adding, "But I traveled the world in TLC."
Contributing: Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TLC's T-Boz 'recovering' from sickle cell crisis amid tour, rep says
