Hiatt injured while hiking in Grundy County, cancels tour

Singer-songwriter John Hiatt has canceled the remainder of his 2023 tour after a fall while hiking in South Cumberland State Park in Grundy County, Tennessee, that left him with a “debilitating fracture.”

Hiatt will make a full recovery, but the remainder of his 2023 tour is canceled, the singer’s website states.

“We want to inform everyone that John recently took a bad fall off a hiking trail and sustained lacerations, bruising and a debilitating fracture,” a statement on Hiatt’s website said. “Thanks to the amazing efforts of the Grundy County EMS, rangers of the South Cumberland State Park and doctors, nurses and staff at Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga, he is now recovering at home under the care of his personal doctor and is expected to make a full recovery.”

Authorities in Grundy County were unable to provide a date or time for the incident when contacted by phone Friday. South Cumberland State Park spans three counties on the Cumberland Plateau — Grundy, Franklin and Marion — with a visitor center in Monteagle, Tennessee.

Hiatt’s team expressed regret over the effect of the signer’s fall.

“Unfortunately, this means John has to cancel all shows scheduled for the remainder of 2023,” the statement said. “He feels terrible that he has to cancel. The promoters will be providing information about refunds, so please check back with them for those details. We appreciate your understanding and prayers while John is on the mend. He will see everyone soon.”

Hiatt’s songs include “Memphis in the Meantime” and “Have a Little Faith in Me.” He appeared in the Chattanooga area as recently as August 2022, when his band featuring Sonny Landreth played the Walker Theatre.

He also played there in 2017.

AP FILE PHOTO/RICHARD DREW Singer, songwriter John Hiatt is shown during an interview in New York to promote his box set “Only the Song Survives.”