American Pickers star cancels all burlesque performances amid heartbreaking family issue

American Pickers star Danielle Colby has been forced to cancel her upcoming burlesque shows due to 'some very serious health issues' happening within her family.

The 49-year-old self-proclaimed Queen of Rust, who performs burlesque under the stage name Danielle Diesel, stressed that 'my family needs me right now.'

In a video uploaded to her Instagram account, Danielle announced that she will not be traveling for performances 'for the foreseeable future' and will only be travelling for American Pickers.

Danielle began the clip by saying: 'I am heartbroken to let you know that I will not be able to join all of you in New Mexico for Dr. Lucky's Blue Review.'

'Unfortunately, we've had some very serious health issues happening within my family,' she explained.

'I really don't want to get too much in detail because it's not my health I'm speaking of.'

Danielle, who was due to make an appearance at Dr. Lucky's Blue review in Las Cruces, New Mexico on December 20 and December 21, went on to stress that her own health is okay.

'I just want to make it clear that I have cancelled all upcoming performances, anything that I have to travel for, for the foreseeable future,' she continued.

'Maybe at some point things will balance out, hopefully, and I'll be able to get on the road again for burlesque.

'But, until then, I'm going to miss you guys.'

Danielle's followers were quick to rally around her and offer words of support in the comments.

One said: 'Sending love.'

'I hope everything will be okay,' another wrote.

A third added: 'Sending lots of love to you and good vibes to get through this.'

While Danielle has been familiar face on television for almost 15 years thanks to her role on the much-loved reality series American Pickers, she also works as a burlesque star and goes by the name of Dannie Diesel.

On social media, the mother-of-two is no stranger to posting sultry snaps and loves to model her burlesque attire, including nipple tassels, elaborate headwear and cut-out lingerie.

In a 2018 interview with Fox News, Danielle revealed that she had learned about Burlesque over 10 years earlier in Chicago, where she saw comedienne Margaret Cho perform in her variety show The Sensuous Woman.

'The interesting thing is I grew up a Jehovah's Witness and I had a very, very strict upbringing,' she explained.

'So burlesque wasn't something that was really around for me. I couldn't be around it. It was new and taboo. The burlesque journey has really been an interesting one for me.

'It's part of my life journey, my relationship with my body and my relationship with sexuality.

'It's deep and it really started from a place of anxiety and depression.'

Danielle's cancellations comes just months after the death of her former American Pickers costar Frank Fritz, who died September 30 aged 60.

Fritz died from the effects of the debilitating stroke he suffered in July 2022.

Before he passed, the reality star had been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, which the outlet reported 'may have [also] played a role' in his death.

Danielle paid an emotional tribute to Fritz at the time, writing: 'Frank, I will miss your ability to make everyone laugh, your love for talking tattoos, your epic collections but what I will miss the most are those little glimpses of vulnerability from time to time.

'Frank, you loved your cat and your momma and we bonded on those things.

'You will be missed for all of these reasons and so many more. Rest in Peace Road Dog.'