Music Widespread Panic cancel tour dates after Jimmy Herring diagnosed with stage 1 tonsil cancer Herring is expected to make a full recovery and is beginning treatment immediately. By Maureen Lee Lenker Maureen Lee Lenker Maureen Lee Lenker is a senior writer at Entertainment Weekly with over seven years of experience in the entertainment industry. An award-winning journalist, she's written for Turner Classic Movies, Ms. Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, and more. She's worked at EW for six years covering film, TV, theater, music, and books. The author of EW's quarterly romance review column, "Hot Stuff," Maureen holds Master's degrees from both the University of Southern California and the University of Oxford. Her debut novel, It Happened One Fight, is now available. Follow her for all things related to classic Hollywood, musicals, the romance genre, and Bruce Springsteen. EW's editorial guidelines Published on July 22, 2024 06:51PM EDT Jimmy Herring, currently the lead guitarist of Widespread Panic, has been diagnosed with stage 1 tonsil cancer. The band announced the news on Instagram, noting that Herring is beginning treatment immediately and is expected to make a full recovery. "That part we're happy to report," the post added. Your guide to 2024's biggest music tours Widespread Panic then announced that the group will also be canceling some concert dates as a result of Herring's need to seek treatment. "The Band will not be playing the upcoming Asheville dates," the post read. "We will have a clearer picture of our future concert schedule in the next few days." "We thank everyone for their concern and Blessings as Jimmy and his Family go through this healing process," the post concluded. "Let the Healing begin." Widespread Panic have officially canceled dates at Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville, N.C., slated for July 25, 26, and 27. They will be automatically issuing refunds. Herring, 62, has enjoyed a long and storied career. His first lead guitarist gig was for Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit, and he remained with them until 1997. He also toured with the Allman Brothers Band. The 10 best albums of 2024 (so far) Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. In 2000, Herring joined the Other Ones, a band consisting of four of the original members of the Grateful Dead. The band has since rechristened itself The Dead. Herring performed with them in 2003 and 2004. Herring became an official member of Widespread Panic in 2006. He's played on three albums with the group and has toured with them ever since.