Clay Walker Helped Off Stage After Festival Set: “Heartbreaking”
Clay Walker Performed At Alabama’s Rock The South Festival
In November 2024, Clay Walker was one of the highlights when the Rock The South announced the lineup for their 13th annual festival in Cullman, Alabama. This year’s three-day festival featured headliners Hank Williams, Jr., Kid Rock, and Nickelback. Other performers included Treaty Oak Revival, Ty Myers, Hudson Westbrook, 3 Doors Down, Ole 60, Vincent Mason, Them Dirty Roses, Afroman, Gavin Adcock, Shenandoah, Bayer Blankenship, Cameron Whitcomb, and Clay Walker.
For Walker, Rock The South festival was smack dab in the middle of his Drive Me Smooth Tour.
View this post on Instagram
Clay Walker Cancelled A Tour Stop A Week Before Rock The South
Walker was slated to perform in Hot Springs, Arkansas on Saturday, June 14, but was forced to cancel his show due to some side effects he was having from a recent medical prodecure.
The “Rumor Has It” singer was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when he was just a rising country star at 26 years old. For decades, he has followed a treatment plan and focused on staying healthy. Even so, he has experienced some health scares over the years, as would anyone with MS.
Recently, he had a procedure to help with his MS, but on June 14, he was experiencing terrible side effects. In a statement posted on his social media accounts, Walker wrote:
“Dear friends & country music fans, I recently had a procedure that could really help my MS… unfortunately I’ve got some side effects that have left me unable to perform tonight at Timberwood Amphitheater in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I really tried my best to pull through for you all, which is why I waited until this morning to make this call,” he continued. “I look forward to returning to Arkansas soon, and I’m bummed to miss you all tonight. We will see everyone back out on the road soon!”
View this post on Instagram
Fans wished him well, hoping they’d see him on stage again soon. And they did! He did, in fact, perform at Rock The South Festival on Thursday, June 19. He did not move around stage as much as he normally does, and even did part of his set seated from a chair.
Some stand out performances included when he brought his son out to sing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” his incredible cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain,” and of course his own hits “Rumor Has It,” “She’ Won’t Be lonely Long,” and “What’s It To You.” See some of those performances below.
Walker’s son performing “Don’t Stop Believing”
@thebrandanadkins When @Clay Walker brings his kid out and he smashes this @JOURNEY cover😍😍 at @Rock the South #foryoupage #rockthesouth #claywalker #fyp #journey #smalltowngirl ♬ original sound – Brandan Adkins
@jessicapittmanlow #RockTheSouth #ClayWalker #purplerainprince #jloonthego ♬ original sound – JLoOnTheGo
@thebrandanadkins @Clay Walker at @Rock the South #foryoupage #claywalker #fyp #rockthesouth ♬ original sound – Brandan Adkins
@priss_sweetpea Clay walker #claywalker #rockthesouth ♬ original sound – priss_sweetpea
Unfortunately, it seems that the performance really took a toll on Walker, who needed help walking off stage after his final song. In the video above, you can see Walker looking around, seemingly planning his exit or trying to get someone to come help him out.
Fans were heartbroken to see this and took to social media to express their support of Walker. See some of their reactions below.
“Praying that he is ok. Big fan of Clay Walker”
“Praying his MS doesn’t get any worse”
“That heat is brutal for autoimmune diseases. Prayers CW gets some rest!”
“Heat is no joke when it comes to MS. He’s one tough man for getting on stage in it.”
“I bet he is going into a flare up..my wife has MS….BEST WISHES CLAY”
“Heartbreaking.”
Watch the video of him being assisted off stage below, and send up a prayer for Walker as he battles MS.
@themisfitamber123 Clay Walker being assisted off stage #ms #rockthesouth2025 #rockstar #country #legend ♬ original sound – Mississippi-misfit-Amber123❤️
