January 19, 2006

Soul Legend Isaac Hayes Hospitalized For Exhaustion

By Gil Kaufman (MTV.com)

Soul legend Isaac Hayes checked into a Memphis, Tennessee, hospital on Tuesday night due to exhaustion. His longtime songwriting partner, David Porter, told the Memphis Commercial Appeal that the 63-year-old singer had simply been working too hard lately. "He's just overworked and had been in Atlantic City performing, the D.C. area performing, and in Tunica a couple of nights ago. He was just overworked. That's it in a nutshell," Porter told paper. "He's much better. He's doing much better."

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer, best known for his No. 1 1971 hit "Theme From Shaft" and for supplying the signature low, rumbling voice of Chef on "South Park," played a two-night stand at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Friday and Saturday and a gig at the Bluesville Nightclub in Tunica, Mississippi, on Sunday night. He's scheduled to perform at the House of Blues in New Orleans this coming Friday; it was unknown at press time if the singer would be able to make that gig.

Calls to Hayes' spokesperson were not returned by press time.

Hayes is just the latest in a long list of stars -- including Eminem, Lindsay Lohan, Colin Farrell, Dave Chappelle, Gwen Stefani and Ashlee Simpson -- who have succumbed to exhaustion recently.