Janet Jackson hospitalized with the flu

Janet Jackson is sick—but not in the good way.

The reigning chart queen was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center late Monday after coming down with a nasty—again, not in the good, patented Miss Jackson way—virus.

"She's been battling this flu like everyone else," Jackson's rep, Patti Webster, told E! News, adding that the singer otherwise boasts a clean bill of health.

The 41-year-old has since been released, Webster said, but will not be appearing as the musical guest on this weekend's Saturday Night Live, as scheduled.

News of the singer's trip to the sick bay was first reported by Us Weekly, which claimed Jackson was admitted after experiencing "shortness of breath."

The ailment comes in the wake of some good news for the singer, whose new album, Discipline, debuted atop the Billboard album charts last week, her sixth disc to hit number one. She will tour later this year.

Not one for a lack of projects, Jackson also recently confirmed that she is in the process of cowriting a book about weight loss with her nutritionist, in which she will discuss her history of being an "emotional eater."

The as-yet-untitled tome will include tips on a healthy approach to eating (feed a cold, hospitalize the flu?) and is due out by the end of the year.

[source]