Folk singer/songwriter Mary Lou Lord recently canceled a tour in support of her major-label debut, Got No Shadow, in order to check into a rehabilitation facility to get treatment for alcohol abuse. The last date the singer completed before checking into the unnamed Los Angeles facility two weeks ago was a March 29 show at the Double Wide in Bellingham, Wash.

Lord, 32, who hasn't hidden her past battles with alcoholism, "had been sober and great for a year and realized she was slipping a bit and checked herself into a program," said Jodi Smith, a spokeswoman for her label, the Work Group. Smith added that she believed the rigors of touring and playing shows in bars night after night may have worn on Lord.

The singer, who began her career busking in the subway stations of Boston, had been touring for nearly six months promoting her album, but had lately found it harder to stay away from alcohol while on the road, according to publicist Dorien Garry of Girlie Action P.R. "Being in bars and being on the road and not being able to go to meetings was hard," Garry said. "But I think she became aware of it and took care of the problem before it got out of hand."

Lord's 13-track album features such emotionally resonant songs as "His Lamest Flame" and "Subway" (RealAudio excerpt), with all but two of the tracks penned by Lord and her songwriting partner, Nick Saloman of the band Bevis Frond. In addition, several famous folks turned out to lend a hand on the disc, including former Byrds frontman Roger McGuinn, Geraldine Fibbers guitarist Nels Cline and Beastie Boys keyboardist Money Mark.

Once her treatment is completed, Smith said, Lord will attempt to reschedule the 13 canceled dates that remained on her tour in mid-May and will also play a number of shows on this summer's Lilith Fair tour. Smith noted, "She's very smart about this and that's why she went in and got this help."