James Brown diagnosed with prostate cancer

Soul legend James Brown will undergo prostate cancer surgery on Dec. 15, he announced in a statement issued this week.

"I have overcome a lot of things in my life," the 71-year-old singer's statement said. "I will overcome this as well."

Brown's recovery from the surgery is expected to take three weeks. Following his recovery, he plans to visit New York City to promote his upcoming book, "I Feel Good: A Memoir of Life and Soul." The memoir will be released in January.

Despite the diagnosis, Brown completed a two-week tour of Canada on Wednesday (12/8). He plans to resume his Seven Decades of Funk World Tour next year in Australia and Asia. He also appears on a new Black Eyed Peas single that's due in February.

Brown, who first charted with "Please, Please, Please" in 1956, was inducted into the Rock and Hall Hall of Fame's first class in 1986.