A doctor has ordered "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks to take a break from singing if she wants to protect her voice after she suffered an acute vocal cord hemorrhage.

According to a statement issued by the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park where Sparks was scheduled to perform on Sunday, the 18-year-old singer, who was supposed to start touring with Alicia Keys as her opening act, is suffering from "an acute vocal cord hemorrhage."

A vocal cord hemorrhage is when a blood vessel on the vocal cord ruptures. It can result in permanent vocal cord damage, so it is important that people suffering from this condition have absolute voice rest.

"All of her April activities have been postponed or canceled so she can take care of her voice properly," 19/Jive Records spokeswoman Wendy Washington was quoted by The Associated Press as saying.

Sparks, who also canceled a gig in Penn State at Earth Day show and an appearance on the "Live with Regis and Kelly show" last week, is expected to make a full recovery and join Alicia Keys sometime in May.

Sparks, who claimed to be a big fan of Alicia Keys,  is on vocal rest and is expected to make a full and complete recovery," according to a statement from 19/Jive Records. "Sparks has been going nonstop over the past two years and now she's going through the normal course of learning how to manage and care for her voice."

The youngest "American Idol" winner ever (Sparks was only 17 when she won the sixth edition of the talent contest) released two hit singles, "Tattoo" and "No Air," while her self-titled album which debuted last year also made it in the top ten on the charts.