Country music legend Willie Nelson was forced to cancel a fundraising gig in Denver yesterday (August 19) after he was admitted to hospital with “breathing problems”.

The singer, who has released over 200 albums and has won seven Grammy Awards during his lengthy career, was scheduled to play at a charity event for the Dumb Friends League in Colorado, but had to scrap the commitment and be taken to a nearby medical facility for checks instead.

A representative for the event revealed that the 79-year-old was “suffering from breathing problems due to the high altitude and emphysema”, but no further information about Nelson’s condition has yet been revealed.

Nelson released his last studio album, ‘Heroes’, in May of this year. The LP featured covers of tracks including Coldplay’s ‘The Scientist’ and Pearl Jam’s ‘Just Breathe’, as well as his pro-cannabis song ‘Roll Me Up’, which featured Snoop Dogg.

The singer recently insisted that legalising marijuana would save “a whole lotta” lives and money. The country singer told the Guardian that smoking weed wasn’t “dangerous healthwise” and said it should be decriminalised.

Asked whether the drug should be legalised, he replied: “It has to, because economically we need the money – why give it to criminals? Most people realise it’s not a deadly drug like cocaine or cigarettes.”

Nelson, who was arrested in 2010 for marijuana possession, revealed earlier this year that he had turned down Roseanne Barr’s offer to be her Presidential running mate.