One month after canceling his headlining tour, Paul Cauthen, a Texas-born country singer famed for his soulful baritone voice, has revealed that he has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
Cauthen, 38, shared the news in a recent Instagram video, noting that he decided to cut his tour short in Des Moines, Iowa, in order to prioritize his health.
The “Black on Black” singer promptly flew back to his home in Tyler, Texas, to recover. A few weeks later, he decided to get a check-up at the Cooper Clinic, located about 100 miles away in Dallas.
Cauthen’s scans revealed his heart, lungs, and liver were in good health. However, doctors noticed “one little spot” on his thyroid, which they referred to as a “hot spot.”
“They found a mass in my right thyroid, and they told me that it is papillary carcinoma, and it’s cancer,” the singer-songwriter recalled.
“Looking back at it all, you know, slowing down and taking some time to get healthy and getting off the road actually probably ended up saving my life,” Cauthen said.
“I have had a lot of time to reflect and realize that life is short and precious,” he continued, thanking his fans for their unwavering support.
Health Battle
In January, Cauthen embarked on his headlining tour in support of his latest album, “Black on Black,” released in October 2024.However, the country singer announced that he would be postponing shows in Bloomington, Indiana, and Lexington, Kentucky, later that month after falling ill with an upper respiratory infection following his performance at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Jan. 25.
On Feb. 6, Cauthen’s team announced that the singer was canceling his remaining shows for the foreseeable future and returning to Texas to address his mental and physical health.
Cauthen’s health update was met with an outpouring of support from his devoted followers.

Cauthen launched his music career as one half of the folk-rock duo Sons of Fathers, performing alongside fellow Texas musician David Beck.
The pair released their self-titled debut, “Sons of Fathers,” in 2011, putting out their sophomore album, “Burning Days,” two years later.
Nicknamed “Big Velvet” for his distinctive sound, Cauthen went on to pursue a solo career in 2016 with his debut record “My Gospel.”
He has since released “Room 41” (2019), “Country Coming Down” (2022), and his most recent album, “Black on Black” (2024).
Cauthen resides in East Texas with his wife, Elizabeth Cauthen, whom he married in 2021.