LOS ANGELES -- Avril Lavigne has laryngitis and has postponed shows on her national tour this week.
The 23-year-old singer, whose hits include "Complicated" and "Girlfriend," backed out of performances in Los Angeles and Anaheim over the weekend. She was supposed to perform in Santa Barbara on Tuesday, San Jose on Wednesday, Spokane, Wash., on Friday and Everett, Wash., on Saturday.
"My sincerest apologies to all of my fans," Lavigne said in a message posted Saturday on her Web site. "My intention was to complete the rest of the tour but tonight at sound check in Anaheim I realized this wasn't possible. Even though I have been resting my voice for days, when I tried to sing nothing came out."
Laryngitis also forced Lavigne to cancel dates last week in Phoenix and San Diego.
Refunds are available where fans purchased tickets, Lavigne's message said.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
