Ronnie Platt, the lead vocalist of Kansas, recently shared on social media that he is facing a cancer thyroid diagnosis. Platt, who has been the lead singer of Kansas since 2014, expressed optimism about his prognosis and emphasized the high cure rate associated with his condition, aiming to alleviate concerns among the band’s supporters.
“Before everyone gets all excited, it has a 99% survival rate and it has not spread. It’s contained to my thyroid and I just have to have my thyroid removed, ” Platt explained. “I’ll go through some rehab time and be right back in the saddle. I sincerely appreciate everyone’s positive thoughts and prayers. I have some absolutely amazing people going to bat for me. As it has been put to me, this is just a bump in the road and will be behind me very soon! So everyone, please CARRY ON!”
Platt has been fronting Kansas for more than 10 years and has appeared in the band’s two most recent – and excellent – studio albums, 2016’s The Prelude Implicit and 2020’s The Absence of Presence.
The band canceled two Louisiana concerts on Feb. 21 and March 1, and the tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase. Other than those two cancellations, Kansas has not announced any further changes to their upcoming tour schedule, perhaps indicating that Platt’s treatment plan may allow him to continue performing.
Kansas concluded its 50th-anniversary tour last year with a final performance in Pittsburgh, showcasing several memorable moments, including a special appearance by founding bassist Dave Hope. Looking ahead to 2025, the band is set to hit the road again this summer for a series of co-headlining shows alongside 38 Special.
