Bret Michaels Undergoes Heart Surgery

Bret Michaels, 47, had surgery in a Phoenix hospital Monday morning to close a hole in his heart, reports PEOPLE. Last May, Michaels had a warning stroke, and after doctors treated him at Phoenix's Barrow Neurological Institute for a brain hemorrhage, they found he had a hole in his heart that had been there since birth. Doctors told him surgery would be necessary one day, or he would develop blood clots and could have had another stroke.
Shortly before surgery on Monday, he told The Arizona Republic, "Barring any complications, I should be out within three to four days. Then, I will be resting for three weeks. I don't know if I can sit around for that long, but I'll try my best.”

The successful operation fixed an opening between the two sides of the heart, or the patent foramen ovale. A scope inserted in his groin area gave doctors access to be able to repair his heart.

The  singer should have his upcoming country album, 'Once a Cowboy, Always a Cowboy,' out later this month. As for being accepted by country fans, Michaels isn't worried and says, "The reason I don't fear it is that I'm comfortable in my skin. I'm not trying to trick anybody."

The soon-to-be country star became engaged last December to Kristi Gibson after proposing to her on the finale of his reality show 'Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It' in December. He plans to release his autobiography 'Roses and Thorns: The Reality of My Rock and Roll Fantasy' this spring and will do a book signing tour to support that.