Andrea McArdle drops out of NBC's 'Annie Live!'

Andrea McArdle has canceled her planned appearance in NBC's "Annie Live!" File Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI Andrea McArdle arrives for the 2011 Theatre World Awards in New York in 2011. File Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI Joanna Pacitti (R) pictured seconds after it was announced in 1996 by Andrea McArdle that she would be the new "Annie" for the 20th anniversary production that opens on Broadway in March 1997. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI Taraji P. Henson arrives for the BET Awards in Los Angeles on June 27. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI Harry Connick Jr. attends the Apple TV+'s "The Morning Show" world premiere in 2019 in New York City. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI

Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Andrea McArdle -- who played the titular orphan in the original 1977 Broadway production of Annie -- has dropped out of NBC's upcoming live broadcast of the musical.

The actress was slated to play former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt in the TV special.

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"I am saddened to announce I will not be participating in Annie Live!," McArdle said in a statement Wednesday.

"My father is currently in the hospital, and I need to put all of my energy into his health and well-being. I wish everyone involved with the production great success. Break a leg everyone."

No replacement has been announced yet.

"We love Andrea McArdle and our entire company is sending best wishes to her and her father," said Bob Greenblatt, an executive producer of Annie Live!

"Our Annie, Celina Smith, is thrilled to have met her and she's excited about following in her incredible footsteps."

Thursday's broadcast is expected to co-star Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan, Harry Connick Jr. as Daddy Warbucks, Nicole Scherzinger as Grace and Tituss Burgess as Rooster.

Jane Krkowski, who was slated to play Lily, exited the production earlier this month after testing positive for COVID-19. Megan Hilty replaced her in the role.