Lincoln native Matthew Sweet, an alt-rock singer-songwriter, is recovering in an Omaha rehabilitation center after suffering a "debilitating" stroke in Toronto on Oct. 12, his longtime manager, Russell Carter, confirmed Tuesday.
In a statement, Carter said Sweet could have "a long, difficult road to recovery," according to billboard.com, a music industry publication. He has canceled his cross-country tour, which included headlining dates and supporting appearances with the band Hanson.
Sweet, who has lived in Omaha since 2013, is known for his hits "Girlfriend" and "I've Been Waiting."
Catherine Lyons, an employee at Russell Carter Artist Management in Atlanta, organized a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Sweet's medical care.
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"Matthew's primary source of income -- like most professional musicians -- is live touring and he cannot perform for the foreseeable future," Carter said in his statement.
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The goal of the campaign is $250,000, and as of Wednesday afternoon, it had raised $225,221. Major donors include Judd Apatow, Ken Jennings and Jon Cryer, according to a report from ABC Audio.
"He will require months of treatment and rehabilitation that we hope will lead to a full recovery," it says on his GoFundMe page. "Without insurance or touring income, Matthew faces an enormous financial burden."
Sweet, 60, started to write and record songs as a teenager. After graduating from Southeast High School in Lincoln, he went to Athens, Georgia, to attend college. There, he met Michael Stipe from the band R.E.M. and they collaborated on a group called Community Trolls.
He released his debut solo album, "Inside," in 1986 to good reviews and signed with A&M Records in 1989. He hit the Top 10 with "Girlfriend" in 1991. That was widely considered to be his artistic breakthrough. He has worked steadily since then, has collaborated with Susanna Hoffs of "The Bangles" and Darius Rucker and was on Fox TV's "The Simpsons" in 2014.
He recorded his 15th studio album, "Catspaw," in 2021.
In his statement, Carter said he hopes Sweet's signature perseverance helps him overcome his latest challenge.
"Matthew has always been intensely focused and tenacious in all his endeavors, not only in his recording career but in all of his artistic and intellectual pursuits," he said. "I am confident that his singular determination will serve him well as he focuses now on his recovery to good health."
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