The first date of the 2016 Life Off My Years Tour just around the corner, but major changes are being made. Due to an emergency vocal cord surgery that Tyler Farr will be undergoing, his tourmate Lee Brice is calling in a few favors with some fellow country artists.

On Wednesday (Jan. 27), Farr revealed the news that he will be having microlaryngeal surgery on Friday (Jan. 29) to remove a polyp from his vocal cords, then will be placed on total vocal rest. According to a press release, the singer first became aware of his vocal issues during the summer; when he canceled a show in Oxford, Ohio, at the last minute due to a battle with bronchitis, the problem was identified.

“This is the last thing I would’ve ever expected. I sing hard, and I give it everything I have every night, but I really believed I was putting my training to work," Farr, a classically trained singer, says in a press release. "... I know what it takes to get out there and really deliver. I hate cancelling shows ... but I never want to give the fans less than everything ... And I know the sooner I let my body heal, the sooner I can get back out there -- and the fewer problems I will have in the long run.

"To me, it’s never about the next few days, but doing the right thing overall," he adds, "and now, I’m under doctor’s orders.”

To fill Farr's slot, Maddie & Tae, Clare Dunn and Jerrod Niemann will be joining Brice on the road this spring. Dylan Scott will be opening.

"Maddie & Tae are the kind of girls a guy can hang out with and girls wanna be -- and they are not kidding when they strap on their guitars and own that stage. They've only been at this a little while, but they're fearless and have fun with the crowd," Brice says in a press release. "Clare Dunn -- man, she can play that guitar. She's so talented! And Jerrod -- he's one of my oldest friends. We came up through the ranks together, as writers and artists. He understands who my fans are, and this is the kind of lineup where, when he's out there, it'll feel like exactly the right combination of songs, singing and hitting people where they live."

Maddie & Tae will be joining Brice at the shows scheduled for Feb. 4-6 in Salisbury, Md.; Rochester, N.Y.; and Kingston, R.I. Niemann will play Feb. 12-14 in Rockford, Ill.; Kearney, Neb.; and Brookings, S.D., then Dunn will take over on March 17-19 in Lowell, Mass.; Allentown, Pa.; and Augusta, Maine. Maddie & Tae will again join Brice for shows on April 7-9 (Milwaukee, Wis.; Kalamazoo, Mich.; and Rosemont, Ill.), April 14 (Saginaw, Mich.), April 15 (Highland Heights, Ky.), April 21 (Dayton, Ohio), April 22 (Youngstown, Ohio) and April 23 (Toledo, Ohio). Direct support for Brice's April 16 stop in Huntington, W.V., has yet to be announced.

Unfortunately, due to the lineup changes, shows on Feb. 18 in Southaven, Miss.; on Feb. 19 in Augusta, Ga.; and on Feb. 20 in Pikeville, Ky., have been canceled.

"Life happens," Brice says. "I always stand by my friends, and I'm grateful that Maddie & Tae, Clare and Jerrod will join me on these dates. Touring with Tyler promised a lot of fun, but knowing this group of artists, I wholeheartedly believe people coming to these shows will have a great time. I can't wait to get on the road and mix it up with these guys -- I know I'm ready, and so are the fans."

More information about the 2016 Life Off My Years Tour is available on Brice’s website.

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