Kansas fans were hit with unexpected news this week as the band announced the cancellation of two upcoming shows following lead singer Ronnie Platt’s cancer diagnosis. But in true rockstar fashion, Platt isn’t backing down.
The vocalist revealed that he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer on February 11 but assured fans that the situation is under control. “Before everyone gets all excited, it has a 99% survival rate [and] it has not spread,” Platt shared on social media. “It’s contained to my thyroid [and] I just have to have my thyroid removed. [I’ll] go through some rehab time and be right back in the saddle.”
His message of resilience was met with an outpouring of support from fans and bandmates alike. Kansas, which has been rocking stages for over five decades, made the tough decision to cancel their shows in New Orleans (Feb. 21) and Lake Charles (March 1). The band has also rescheduled two Oklahoma concerts to November. “Our goal is to be back on the road as soon as possible,” assistant band manager J.R. Rees stated. “Right now, we’re all focused on supporting Ronnie through this.”
A Rocker’s Journey
Platt has been Kansas’ lead vocalist for over a decade, stepping into the legendary shoes of Steve Walsh in 2014. His powerful voice has carried the band through two studio albums—The Prelude Implicit (2016) and The Absence of Presence (2020)—proving himself a worthy successor.
His journey to joining the band was something out of a rock ‘n’ roll fairytale. When he was recruited, Kansas didn’t even ask for an audition. “We know you can sing your ass off,” they told him. “We just want to know if you’re a good guy who fits in with the band.”
Now, after wrapping up their 50th-anniversary tour in December, which featured a guest appearance from original bassist Dave Hope, Kansas had big plans for 2025—including a co-headlining tour with 38 Special. While the recent diagnosis has put some shows on pause, fans are hopeful that Platt will soon be back where he belongs: on stage, belting out classics like Carry On Wayward Son and Dust in the Wind.
In true rock warrior fashion, Platt remains upbeat. “This is just a bump in the road and will be behind me very soon!” he assured fans. If anyone can turn adversity into a comeback story, it’s a rocker like Ronnie Platt.
