Elton John cancels US shows due to illness

Elton John has canceled three shows in Las Vegas this week after being hospitalized for a "serious respiratory infection" in Los Angeles, he said in a statement reported Thursday. The British singer spent the day Wednesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he underwent extensive tests, it said, announcing the cancelation of his "Million Dollar Piano" tour shows on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday this week. "Elton developed a serious respiratory infection last weekend while performing at The Colosseum (in Vegas) on Sunday, May 20," said the statement, apparently from his website, reported by the LA Times. "This week the condition worsened, even with medication and rest, resulting in Elton being hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center .. at 6:00 am Wednesday, May 23, where he remained throughout the day for extensive tests. "Those tests resulted in the attending... physician recommending that Elton not perform any concerts for approximately seven days with complete rest and antibiotic treatment to cure his respiratory infection and prevent any damage." The celebrity news website TMZ also reported the shows' cancelation and the singer's sickness. In the statement -- which was not immediately viewable on his website, Twitter feed or Facebook page -- John said he was "very disappointed" at having to cancel. "It feels strange not to be able to perform these 'Million Dollar Piano' concerts at The Colosseum," John said. "I love performing this show and I will be thrilled when we return to The Colosseum in October to complete the 11 concerts soon to be scheduled. All I can say to the fans is sorry I can't be with you." John is due to perform in a concert in front of Buckingham Palace on June 4 -- along with Paul McCartney, Kylie Minogue and Chinese piano virtuoso Lang Lang -- to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee. Publicists for the singer did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation, or further details.