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Country legend Ronnie McDowell was pulled off stage and rushed to a local hospital when he began slurring his words during a performance over the weekend. He has since been cleared to head home with his family.
McDowell, 75, was performing at the Summer Solstice Music Festival in Oley, Pennsylvania, according to multiple news outlets as of Monday morning (June 23). The country star’s tour manager confirmed to Nashville, Tennessee-based ABC affiliate, WKRN, that McDowell mentioned he thought he might have had a stroke a few songs into his performance on Saturday night (June 21); however, the exact reason for the possible medical issue was not confirmed as of publication time on Monday. McDowell was reportedly “not making sense” on stage at the festival.
A statement shared to McDowell’s Facebook page on Sunday (June 22) reads: “Please keep Ronnie in your thoughts and prayers. The Family is updating on their personal platforms.” The country star’s son, Tyler Dean McDowell, has since offered a few updates on Facebook. The most recent update on Monday reads: “I have Dad in the car and we are on our way home!” Tyler Dean McDowell also promised he or others in the family would share “an update soon.”
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.