Raul Malo, the soulful voice behind Grammy-winning band The Mavericks, has shared a devastating health update. The 60-year-old singer announced on Wednesday that his colon cancer has progressed to leptomeningeal disease (LMD), a rare and aggressive condition that affects the brain and spinal cord.
In an emotional Instagram letter, Raul Malo wrote, "Dear Friends, I want to update you all on my health, as things have taken a turn. As it goes with cancer, it’s a very unpredictable and indiscriminatory disease. I’ve developed something called LMD, which stands for “get this shit out of my head”. Treatment for this is radiation, which I will start tomorrow. We will probably jump into some chemo, and are even looking at alternative therapies. But it’s time to take your words to heart of resting & recovering, so that’s what I’m going to do."
He added, "Unfortunately, this does mean all shows going forward are canceled, but we’ll continue doing cool projects, releasing live recordings, merchandise, Trovador and so forth. I want to thank Dwight Yoakam, his band, and crew for their kindness and understanding this year, and sorry we couldn’t finish the tour the way we planned. Hang on to your tickets for the Ryman in December, as we are planning something special there, and hope to announce that very soon."
"But I want to let everybody know, I am in no way alone, or scared. I have an amazing wife and boys, wonderful family, team, road crew, band, friends and fans. I don’t even have enough words to describe the love and support that I’m getting right now. To my friends who have sent me texts and messages, I want you to know that I’ve read them all. I can’t return them all, but your love, prayers, and well wishes have not gone unnoticed."
"We don’t know what this will look like a couple months from now, but we are going into it like we have with everything else. Full steam ahead. Fight, recover, rest, repeat. I want to thank you all for your incredible support through all this, & sorry about the cancellations but we have no choice anymore. Find kindness and empathy out there wherever you can. Humans are alright, even if you don’t believe it from what you see on TV. We will keep you informed as this goes, and I promise, no more bullfighting pictures without context. With love, RM," he ended.
The update immediately sparked a wave of support from fans across the globe.
Concert cancellations and Nashville farewell
Raul Malo confirmed that all of The Mavericks’ scheduled 2025 concerts are canceled. The only exception will be two farewell shows in December at Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium.
“Hang on to your tickets for the Ryman in December. We are planning something special there, and hope to announce that very soon,” Raul Malo wrote.
Until then, the band assured supporters that live recordings, side projects, and merchandise would continue to roll out despite the touring pause.
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Gratitude and resilience in tough times
Even as he faces new rounds of radiation and possible chemotherapy, Raul Malo struck a tone of gratitude. He thanked his wife, sons, bandmates, and the Mavericks’ loyal fanbase.
“I cannot return every message, but your love, prayers, and well wishes have not gone unnoticed,” he wrote. Adding, “Fight, recover, rest, repeat.”
He also reminded fans to lean on kindness, writing, “Find kindness and empathy out there wherever you can. Humans are alright, even if you don’t believe it from what you see on TV.”
Fans rally behind Raul Malo
From Instagram comments to fan pages, the love has poured in. Messages like “Sending strength and peace” and “Wishing you a smooth therapy and speedy recovery” continue to flood his posts.
Looking ahead, The Mavericks plan to take an extended touring break into early 2026, allowing Raul Malo more time to focus on recovery.
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FAQs
Q1: What illness is Raul Malo battling?
Raul Malo was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2024, which has now progressed to leptomeningeal disease (LMD).
Q2: Will The Mavericks tour in 2025?
No, all 2025 shows are canceled except for two farewell concerts at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in December.
Q3: How is Raul Malo staying connected with fans?
Raul Malo continues to share updates on Instagram, while The Mavericks plan to release live recordings, merchandise, and side projects.
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