Rockstar Ronnie Platt shares major health update after recent cancer diagnosis
Ronnie Platt has shared that he is home following surgery for his thyroid cancer (Picture: Jason Kempin/Getty Images) Singer Ronnie Platt has shared a major health update after announcing his thyroid cancer diagnosis last month. 80s rock band Kansas cancelled two shows in February after singer Ronnie, 65, revealed his diagnosis, promising he would soon be ‘back in the saddle’. Weeks later and Robert has shared a happy health update with worried fans. ‘I am home!’ he began, writing on Facebook. ‘The Doctor said my surgery couldn’t have gone any better!!! ‘I felt the power of everyone’s prayers and positive energy! You all have helped me thru this, how do I? or can I? ever thank all of you for that!!!???? ‘Day 1 of recovery here I am!!! The Kansas lead singer announced he’d been diagnosed with thyroid cancer in February (Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images) ‘I am looking forward to getting back to what I do best! Yes, singing, but my true job is entertaining you all and helping you at least for a couple hours forget about your problems and recharge your batteries. I take a lot of pride in that!!!!’ The hitmaker signed off with: ‘Thank you all again, CARRY ON!!!!’ In February, Robert shared his diagnosis on social media. ‘For all of you asking, Tuesday I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer but before everyone gets all excited, it has a 99 per cent survival rate. It has not spread,’ he said. ‘It’s contained to my thyroid. I just have to have my thyroid removed. Go through some rehab time and be right back in the saddle.’ He joined the band in 2014 (Picture: Daniel Knighton/Getty Images) In his announcement, he also referenced Kansas’ famed song The Carry On Wayward Son, as he said: ‘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!’ As a result, the rock band cancelled shows in Louisiana on February 21 and March 1. Fans were happy to hear the good news, as many commented on his post with their well wishes. ‘Continuing to pray for a quick recovery Ronnie!’ wrote George Evans, while Veronica Wimmer wrote: ‘AWESOME! Continued prayers for healing!!’ In his February announcement, Ronnie said he’d be ‘back in the saddle’ soon (Picture: Lisa Lake/Getty Images) ‘Great news. Thanks for the update. We miss having you entertaining us!’ said Michael Wold. Known for massive hits like Dust in the Wind, Carry on Wayward Son, and Play the Game Tonight, Kansas was one of the biggest American rock bands of the 1970s. They featured on the US Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Ronnie featured on the group’s last two albums, 2016’s The Prelude Implicit and 2020’s The Absence of Presence. On celebrating the band’s 50-year anniversary in 2023 – with a rotating lineup of members – Robert told Misplaced Straws in an interview that he was a ‘huge fan’ of Kansas before joining the band, replacing Steve Walsh after his retirement. Steve Walsh retired in 2014 and Ronnie took over lead singer duties (Picture: Dagmar Scherf/ullstein bild via Getty Images) ‘Just on a whim, I contacted Rich (Williams) through Facebook and said, “Rich, Ronnie Platt from Shooting Star. Give me some consideration”. That’s all I wrote,’ Ronnie recalled. ‘The very next day, I heard from Rich, I was just about to walk out the door, check my messages and hear. “It’s Rich Williams, if you get this within the next hour and a half, we’re about to go on stage in Houston, give me a call”. ‘I call Rich kind of like freaking out. I’m like, okay. Is this real? The next day, talk to Phil, which was a Friday, Monday, they flew me down to meet with them in Atlanta, and they were very, very upfront, “You’re not coming to audition, we’ve seen you sing, we know you could sing your butt off, we just wanna know if you’re a nice guy, if you’re gonna get along with everyone in the band”.’ A day later, in 2014, Ronnie was the new lead singer of Kansas and has been ever since. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Singer Ronnie Platt has shared a major health update after announcing his thyroid cancer diagnosis last month.
80s rock band Kansas cancelled two shows in February after singer Ronnie, 65, revealed his diagnosis, promising he would soon be ‘back in the saddle’.
Weeks later and Robert has shared a happy health update with worried fans.
‘I am home!’ he began, writing on Facebook. ‘The Doctor said my surgery couldn’t have gone any better!!!
‘I felt the power of everyone’s prayers and positive energy! You all have helped me thru this, how do I? or can I? ever thank all of you for that!!!????
‘Day 1 of recovery here I am!!!
The Kansas lead singer announced he’d been diagnosed with thyroid cancer in February (Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)‘I am looking forward to getting back to what I do best! Yes, singing, but my true job is entertaining you all and helping you at least for a couple hours forget about your problems and recharge your batteries. I take a lot of pride in that!!!!’
The hitmaker signed off with: ‘Thank you all again, CARRY ON!!!!’
In February, Robert shared his diagnosis on social media.
‘For all of you asking, Tuesday I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer but before everyone gets all excited, it has a 99 per cent survival rate. It has not spread,’ he said.
‘It’s contained to my thyroid. I just have to have my thyroid removed. Go through some rehab time and be right back in the saddle.’
He joined the band in 2014 (Picture: Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)In his announcement, he also referenced Kansas’ famed song The Carry On Wayward Son, as he said: ‘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!’
As a result, the rock band cancelled shows in Louisiana on February 21 and March 1.
Fans were happy to hear the good news, as many commented on his post with their well wishes.
‘Continuing to pray for a quick recovery Ronnie!’ wrote George Evans, while Veronica Wimmer wrote: ‘AWESOME! Continued prayers for healing!!’
In his February announcement, Ronnie said he’d be ‘back in the saddle’ soon (Picture: Lisa Lake/Getty Images)‘Great news. Thanks for the update. We miss having you entertaining us!’ said Michael Wold.
Known for massive hits like Dust in the Wind, Carry on Wayward Son, and Play the Game Tonight, Kansas was one of the biggest American rock bands of the 1970s.
They featured on the US Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Ronnie featured on the group’s last two albums, 2016’s The Prelude Implicit and 2020’s The Absence of Presence.
On celebrating the band’s 50-year anniversary in 2023 – with a rotating lineup of members – Robert told Misplaced Straws in an interview that he was a ‘huge fan’ of Kansas before joining the band, replacing Steve Walsh after his retirement.
Steve Walsh retired in 2014 and Ronnie took over lead singer duties (Picture: Dagmar Scherf/ullstein bild via Getty Images)‘Just on a whim, I contacted Rich (Williams) through Facebook and said, “Rich, Ronnie Platt from Shooting Star. Give me some consideration”. That’s all I wrote,’ Ronnie recalled.
‘The very next day, I heard from Rich, I was just about to walk out the door, check my messages and hear. “It’s Rich Williams, if you get this within the next hour and a half, we’re about to go on stage in Houston, give me a call”.
‘I call Rich kind of like freaking out. I’m like, okay. Is this real? The next day, talk to Phil, which was a Friday, Monday, they flew me down to meet with them in Atlanta, and they were very, very upfront, “You’re not coming to audition, we’ve seen you sing, we know you could sing your butt off, we just wanna know if you’re a nice guy, if you’re gonna get along with everyone in the band”.’
A day later, in 2014, Ronnie was the new lead singer of Kansas and has been ever since.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
