Swine flu outbreak causes country stars to alter touring routines, cancel fan meetings

May 1, 10:19 PMCountry Music ExaminerLisa L. Rollins

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Swine flu alters tour for country stars Miranda Lambert & Kenny Chesney.

The influenza that won’t easily lose its initial “swine flu” moniker has made its mark on the country music world already, and in particular, on the Lone Star concert circuit.

Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga., recently reported that there is one death and 28 confirmed H1N1 flu cases in Texas, country-music performers on tour in the Friendship State have begun altering their tour routes and usual road routines, according to artist Web sites and interviews broadcast on country radio.

The newly launched Kenny Chesney tour, for one, has confirmed that the genre superstar is among those feeling the backlash of the infuenza formerly known as Swine. In turn, the Tennessee performer, who’s touring with Texas-born and based Miranda Lambert throughout the summer, has nixed fan meet ‘n’ greets In San Antonio, Houston and Dallas over the H1N1-induced panic.

"We're definitely taking precautions, and unfortunately, we had to cancel some meet ‘n’ greets this weekend," confirmed country star Lambert—who’s also the steady gal-pal of country star Blake Shelton—in a recent radio interview with one Grand Rapids, Mich., disc jockey.

A tried ‘n’ true country girl with her own farm, Lambert herself has a couple pot-bellied pigs among her Texas farm’s inhabitants. But it’s people, not pigs, folks need to fear when it comes to the H1N1 outbreak, she reminded the WBCT DJ during their on-air visit, when he quizzed her about her pig ownership.

Miranda Lambert with her pet pig, Amos Moses.

“I’d be more likely to give (swine flu) to them,” joked Lambert, referring to her pet pigs, “(because) I’m exposed to a lot more than them.”

Nonetheless, the current flu panic does have Lambert—who debuted her new single, “Dead Flowers,” during the live ACM Awards broadcast—in a mode of caution.

“I am very concerned,” she shared in the radio visit. “We’re in Texas this weekend with Kenny, and it’s kind of scary, because that’s where everything is showing up.”

Meanwhile, Georgia-born country singer Jason Aldean, too, has been affected by the current flu outbreak and has canceled fan meet ’n’ greets on his Wide Open concert tour in various states through at least May 9, with a promise that he’ll reschedule at a later date for fan club members.

Jason Aldean's "She's Country" hit the No. 1 spot.

“Due to circumstances out of our control, all Meet & Greets have been canceled for Jason’s shows effective immediately through May 9th,” reads the message on Aldean’s Web site. “We will be happy to honor any Aldean Army winners' requests at a later date if one comes up on the schedule that they would like to attend. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

Aldean’s popularity is at an all-time high, with his latest single, “She’s Country,” sittin’ pretty in the No. 1 spot on the nation’s country charts. Undoubtedly, those members of the Aldean Army, his fan club, who will miss out on their chance to shake hands or get an autograph this go around will be sorely disappointed.

In related broadcast news, per a report in Country Radio Aircheck, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, in partnership with National Association of Broadcasters, has produced several radio public-service announcements, or PSAs, educating listeners about the virus. The PSAs are available via the NAB site for download.

Miranda Lambert music video for "More Like Her."