TLC will keep its It’s Iconic Tour moving while Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins recovers from a sickle cell crisis that required hospitalization. The group shared a new update Thursday, saying Watkins is improving each day and that her condition is not considered life-threatening. However, there is no timetable for her return to the stage, and TLC made clear that she will not resume performing until doctors clear her.
The statement follows several shows without Watkins, with Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas carrying TLC’s portion of the tour alongside Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue. At an Aug. 28 stop in Connecticut, Chilli told the audience that her longtime groupmate was dealing with a sickle cell episode and asked fans to help “hold her down” in her absence. A representative later confirmed to USA Today that Watkins had been hospitalized and was “recovering and regaining her strength.”
Read More: T-Boz Refutes Jermaine Dupri's Claim That He Is Responsible For Her Voice
T-Boz Won’t Return Until She Is Medically Cleared
TLC’s latest message offers more clarity about what happens next. Chilli will continue performing each night while Watkins recovers, rather than putting the tour on hold. The group also cautioned that recovery from a sickle cell crisis can take days or weeks, making any firm return date impossible to predict. “Her health and recovery remain our highest priority,” the statement read. “Tionne looks forward to returning to the tour when she is fully recovered and medically cleared to perform.”
Watkins has lived with sickle cell disease since childhood and has spoken publicly about how severe its pain can become. The inherited blood disorder affects red blood cells and can interfere with oxygen delivery throughout the body, and some complications may require hospitalization. Watkins told PEOPLE in 2017 that the illness is something she has to manage every day, describing episodes painful enough to leave her delirious. Her current hospitalization has drawn support from fans as well as fellow artists, including Jodeci’s Dalvin DeGrate, who publicly asked for prayers earlier this week.
The timing also falls during National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, something TLC addressed directly in its update. Rather than asking fans to send Watkins well wishes only, the group encouraged people to learn more about the disease and support families living with it. At the moment, the tour remains active, and Chilli is holding down TLC’s set. Watkins’ return depends entirely on her recovery, with the group making it clear that getting her back onstage quickly is not the priority.
