OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
5:43 PM – Thursday, February 20, 2025
After the legendary rock band canceled several upcoming shows, Ronnie Platt, who became Kansas’ frontman singer in 2014, revealed his cancer diagnosis.
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Kansas is best known for songs like “Carry on Wayward Son,” “Dust in the Wind,” and “Point Of Know Return,” — still being featured in television shows and films.
Platt, 64, who is also the former lead singer of the band Shooting Star, posted a statement regarding his diagnosis on Facebook, though he still appeared to be in an optimistic mood.
“For all of you asking, Tuesday I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer but before everyone gets all excited, it has a 99% survival rate, it has not spread. 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. I sincerely appreciate everyone’s positive thoughts and prayers. I have some absolutely amazing people going to bat for me!! 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,” the rocker posted.
The Mayo Clinic states that thyroid cancer can develop without showing any symptoms. The malignancy may eventually result in “difficulty swallowing, voice changes, and swelling in your neck.” Thyroid cancer comes in a variety of forms.
“Our goal is to be back on the road as soon as possible,” assistant band manager J.R. Rees told Ultimate Classic Rock in a statement. “Right now, we’re all focused on supporting Ronnie through this.”
“This is just a bump in the road,” the band wrote in a social media post, speaking on Platt’s cancer diagnosis.
Kansas had already canceled two performances in Oklahoma that were originally scheduled for February 14th and 15th until November — before revealing his diagnosis.
Additionally, the rock group postponed their March 1st performance in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as well.
“The band apologizes for the inconvenience and hopes to be back on the road soon,” Kansas wrote on Instagram.
Kansas began as a “garage band” in Topeka, Kansas, fifty years ago. In 1974, the rock group’s first album, “Kansas,” was released. According to the group’s website, Kansas spent 200 weeks on the Billboard chart in the 1970s and 1980s.
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