Ronnie McDowell suffered an apparent medical emergency during his latest concert.
A 75-year-old country singer was taken to the hospital after experiencing slurred speech during a performance at the Summer Solstice Music Festival in Oley, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, as reported by Nashville-based radio station WKRN.
McDowell’s tour manager told the station that the star was three or four songs into his set before he started “not making sense.”
The tour manager then pulled McDowell off the stage and asked him if he felt okay, to which McDowell replied, “No.”
McDowell mentioned that he thought he might be having a stroke, his tour manager claimed.
The “Smokey Places” singer was taken to a hospital in Reading, Penn. where he was still undergoing tests as of Sunday morning, according to WKRN.
After the concert, McDowell’s son, Tyler Dean McDowell, released a statement on Facebook addressing his dad’s health scare.
“Hey everyone—I know you’re all concerned. I promise—no one is more worried than I am,” wrote Tyler. “Please understand, this is an incredibly stressful time, and right now, my primary focus is on my Dad. If there’s anything that needs to be shared, I promise—we will.”
“If you can, pray,” he added.
The next day, Tyler gave an update on the singer’s health in another Facebook post.
“Just wanted to let everyone know — I made it to Pennsylvania. Ronnie Dean & I are here with Dad,” Tyler wrote. “He’s talking to us, and we’re waiting to do the MRI. I’ll update you all as soon as I know more. Love Forever.”
In a second update shared hours later, Tyler wrote, “Brought dad some Popcorners and a Kombucha (snacks he likes). Ronnie Dean brought his comfy shows, favorite brush, and Vietnam hat. Dad was very excited about all this — like a kid in a candy store. Figured y’all could use a lil’ levity.”
McDowell, whose career spans decades, is best known for his chart-topping songs “Older Women” and “You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation.”
His very first album was 1977’s “The King Is Gone,” which was a tribute to Elvis Presley after the music legend’s death at age 42 that same year.
McDowell has five children, including sons Tyler and Ronnie Jr., who are both musicians.
