When Little Big Town takes to the stage at the ACM Awards on Sunday (April 18), there will be a noticeable difference. One of their members, Phillip Sweet, won’t be there.
The group’s other members, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, and Kimberly Schlapman told Audacy that Sweet is “not feeling good.”
“We might as well break the news, he’s got the COVID,” Westbrook said. “He seems to be holding off the really bad stuff, just a little not feeling great.”
Fairchild added, “He is, unfortunately, so sad and missing out on this whole ACM week. But he’ll be back soon.”
Even though Sweet can’t attend the ACM Awards due to his COVID diagnosis, the group’s other members will still perform. They’re scheduled to sing their lively hit single “Wine, Beer, Whiskey.”
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The group also spoke with Taste of Country Nights about Sweet.
“He’s doing okay, but he won’t be able to be on the show with us,” Fairchild said. “He’s not feeling great, but he’s doing okay.”
Sweet’s bandmates say they often check in on him to make sure he’s doing alright. Schlapman went the extra mile by dropping off some chicken and dumplings on his doorstep.
Schlapman is familiar with what Sweet is going through. She tested positive for the virus in the fall. Fairchild may have had COVID as well…she fell ill in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic. At the time, her symptoms were diagnosed as the flu, but she now knows she was exhibiting symptoms characteristic of COVID-19.
The news of Sweet’s COVID diagnosis comes shortly after it was announced Luke Bryan would have to remove himself from the ACM Awards‘ lineup. He too, tested positive for COVID and is therefore unable to attend the ceremony.
I’m sad to say I won’t be a part of tonight’s first live @AmericanIdol show. I tested positive for COVID but I’m doing well and look forward to being back at it soon.
— Luke Bryan (@lukebryan) April 12, 2021
Bryan, who is a judge on American Idol, had to miss its first live show on Monday (April 12) as a result of his positive test. He was temporarily replaced by original Idol judge Paula Abdul.
We hope both Bryan and Sweet get to feeling better soon. We’ll sure miss seeing them at the ACM Awards this year.
Hopefully it won’t be long before Sweet can reunite with his bandmates to sing “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” for some other occasion!