The Associated Press
Sunday, August 27, 2006; 5:26 PM

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Laryngitis forced pop singer John Mayer to back out of a performance Saturday night.

Thousands of fans waited at the gates of the Dodge Music Center before organizers decided co-headliner Sheryl Crow and opening act Mat Kearney could go on without Mayer.

The Grammy-winning singer, who was born in Bridgeport and raised in Fairfield, has hits including "Your Body is a Wonderland" and "Daughters."

"John feels terrible about the sudden cancellation and he will plan to be back in Connecticut soon," according to a press release, which attributed his absence to a "sudden onset" of laryngitis.

Fans who did not cross the entrance gate and have their tickets ripped are entitled to a refund.