Pop legend Cher was forced to pull out of her Las Vegas residency at the weekend after suffering from bronchitis.

The Believe singer, 62, canceled both Saturday and Sunday's shows at the Colosseum at Caesar's Palace - her final dates of the year - due to the asthma-related illness.

Her publicist Liz Rosenberg has blamed the star's ailment on the so-called "Vegas Throat" - a bad sore throat caused by the dry desert climate, coupled with the heavy air conditioning in Sin City's hotels and casinos.

The representative has also dismissed reports Cher is suffering from chronic abdominal problems. In a statement issued by Caesar's Palace bosses, they assure fans Cher will be back in 2009, saying: "Cher looks forward to her return to The Colosseum early next year with performances to be announced soon."

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)