AceShowbiz -

Cher has announced that she's exiting Lifetime's movie "Flint" which is scheduled to begin shooting next month. The "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" hitmaker cited a "serious family issue" as the reason for her departure.

"This has been a project so near and dear to my heart and I was truly looking forward to helping tell this story. Unfortunately I will be unable to leave Los Angeles during the scheduled filming as I am dealing with a serious family issue that prevents me from going on location for the April filming," she said in a statement. "I'm so glad that Craig [Zadan] and Neil [Meron] plan to move ahead and I know that this Lifetime movie will be done beautifully."

As Cher didn't provide details about the "family issue," fans are concerned about her health. ET, however, has assured everyone that the pop icon is in good health. As for the "serious" issue that she referred to, it reportedly is about her mother's health.

The 70-year-old actress/singer's "worried about her mother's health," a source tells the site. "She's in her 90's now and does not want to be far from her. Her mother is not deathly ill, but is somewhat fragile." The source adds, "Cher's health is fine."

"Flint" follows the story of three women from Flint who fought to expose the wrongdoing committed against the residents of the city who were unknowingly drinking and using lead-laden water. Their actions inspired a national movement for safe drinking water despite the political powers working against them at every turn.

Inspired by the Time magazine cover story, "The Toxic Tap", by Josh Sanburn, it will be directed by Bruce Beresford with a script provided by Barbara Stepansky. In addition to starring, Cher was also attached as an executive producer. It's unknown if she will remain an executive producer on the TV movie.