Country singer George Strait postponed his concert at the Sprint Center on Saturday night, telling his crowd of about 18,000 that he was too sick to go on.

About 9:15 p.m,. as the P.A. system played "Deep in the Heart of Texas," Strait took the stage and strapped on his guitar. He then sang "Here for a Good Time," though clearly he was not. He managed to get through another song, "I Gotta Get To You" before he stopped.

"I just can't do it," he told the crowd, in a voice that was labored and hoarse.

After their disappointment had settled in, many of his fans stood and gave him a rousing cheer. Strait asked them to hold on to their tickets. The show has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 3. The night wasn't a complete loss for most fans. Martina McBride opened the show with a one-hour set that included several of her best-known songs.