[caption id="attachment_71296" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Sinead O'Connor in 2008."]
Irish singer Sinead O'Connor has blamed her ongoing battle with bipolar disorder for forcing her to cancel her 2012 tour.
The troubled singer, best known for hits including 'Nothing compares 2U', made the announcement on her website, to the disappointment of fans hoping she would
make a comeback after public marriage difficulties.
O'Connor, who once caused outrage in her native Ireland by ripping up a picture of Pope John Paul II, said this week she made the decision "with enormous regret."
"As you all know I had a very serious breakdown between December and March and I had been advised by my doctor not to go on tour but didn't want to fail or let
anyone down as the tour was already booked to coincide with album release," she told fans.
"So very stupidly I ignored his advice to my great detriment, attempting to be stronger than I actually am. I apologize sincerely for any difficulties this may cause."
Last December, her brief marriage to therapist Barry Herridge sparked headlines when the couple announced they were splitting after just 16 days of wedlock.
The tour was due to promote her latest album "How About I Be Me (And You Be You), " which was released in February.
