April 21) - "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks has been ordered to go on vocal rest and will miss all April concert dates on Alicia Keys' tour after being stricken with a throat injury that doctors warn could cause permanent damage to her vocal cord.

"Because of the risk of permanent vocal cord damage, Sparks has been ordered to strict vocal rest and will not be able to perform anywhere until her condition improves," a spokesman for the Bryce Jordan Center, the arena at Penn State where the 18-year-old singer was to perform Sunday, told the Centre Daily Times.

Sparks also had to cancel an Earth Day concert on the National Mall in Washington D.C. scheduled for Monday and will have to wait to join the recently-launched Alicia Keys national tour. She was awarded the opening slot on the tour -- her biggest break since winning "Idol."

A spokesperson for Sparks' label, Jive, told Billboard.com, "Jordin is on a vocal rest, but she's expected to make a full recovery and join Alicia on tour in May."

According to WCBS, Sparks had to cancel an appearance last week on the "Live With Regis and Kelly Show."

At 17, Sparks became the youngest winner in "American Idol" history when she bested Blake Lewis in the sixth season of the hit talent show.

Her debut self-titled album has slowly picked up steam since its November release, with her latest single "No Air" climbing to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week.

http://news.aol.com/entertainment/music/music-news-story/ar/_a/throat-injury-silences-jordin-sparks/20080421115309990001

i hope she gets well soon!!