Janet Jackson is delaying her Unbreakable tour, saying she and her husband are planning their family and that she is under doctor’s orders to rest.

The 49-year-old singer announced in a clip on her Twitter account on Wednesday morning that there has been a “sudden change” to the second leg of her tour, which started in August.

She didn’t say she was pregnant, only that she “has to rest up; doctor’s orders”.

• Mariah Carey plays the hits on London stage
• The song Dami Im will perform at Eurovision

The singer is married to Qatari Wissam Al Mana, whom she wed in 2012.

Jackson said she has not forgotten about her fans and would continue the tour as soon as she possibly can.

In the one-minute, 46-second video clip, Jackson smiles and speaks directly to her fans. She asks that they understand that it’s important that she “does this now” and thanked them for their love and loyalty.

She went on to thank her dancers, her band and her crew. She said couldn’t wait to get started again.

A message from Janet…https://t.co/KrzYZ4eyvD

— Janet Jackson (@JanetJackson) April 6, 2016

On December 24, Jackson announced she was postponing her Unbreakable tour until the (northern) spring to have an unspecified surgical procedure. She had been next scheduled to perform in early January in Denver.

At that time, Jackson’s statement asked for prayers of support and said no further details on her medical condition would be disclosed.

Two weeks later, Jackson announced rescheduled tour dates after she took some time to recover from the surgical procedure. The singer again offered no details on her medical condition, but denied viral rumours that she had cancer.

Jackson said at the time the North American leg of her Unbreakable tour would resume on May 14 in Las Vegas.

Rescheduled shows were also to include dates in Portland, Oregon; Houston; Detroit; Atlanta; Washington; New York; Philadelphia and more. Live Nation had said tickets for previously announced dates would be honoured at rescheduled shows.

Jackson began her Unbreakable tour last August and it soon made the Top 20 global concert tour listing compiled by Pollstar.