Ernest is stepping away from touring, at least in the short-term. The country music star recently announced that he's prioritizing his mental and physical health. His announcement was made via a recent Instagram story.
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"Hey y'all. The road has been dragging me down in a bad way. From mental to physical health," he wrote. "I am going away for a couple of weeks to get myself and my priorities back in order."
Ernest has recently been touring with Ella Langley on her "The Dandelion Tour," as a supporting act. However, following his announcement, he will now miss Langley's upcoming tour dates. He had previously been scheduled to be part of the show through September 12.
Nevertheless, Ernest made sure to give thanks to Langley during his announcement.
"I want to thank Ella for having me out on tour and wishing her the BEST in Auburn tonight and the rest of the tour," he continued.
Making a decision to step away from the road while being part of an active tour can't be easy. However, Ernest is doing what is best for him, and what he hopes will allow him to get back to the best version of himself. He noted a similar point in his announcement.
"I look forward to coming back better and stronger," he wrote. "I owe it to myself and those affected by my actions. That starts now. Love y'all."
Ernest Isn't the First Country Star To Make a Decision Like This
Ernest's decision to put his mental and physical health first makes him the latest in a growing line of stars to pull out of tour dates. In March 2026, Colter Wall announced he was canceling the remainder of his tour, saying he'd become mentally unwell.
"The truth is that I am mentally unwell," he wrote on Instagram. "Despite this, I have pushed myself to continue with touring. As a result, my mental health has only further declined. After discussions with my team, we have decided to cancel the remaining shows and take an indefinite leave."
Just a few months later, Tayler Holder made a similar announcement.
"This is one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, but I need to cancel my upcoming shows," Holder wrote via his Instagram. "Over the past several months, I've been in a constant struggle with my mental health in ways that I can no longer ignore."
There's no doubt that touring can be mentally taxing. Spending countless nights on the road, isolated from family and loved ones, is bound to take its toll. Nevertheless, the fact that these stars are brave enough to recognize their struggles and act on them is admirable. Hopefully, they'll all be back to doing what they love in the near future.
