Barbra Streisand ‘Struggling More Than People Realize’ Amid Last-Minute Cannes Cancellation

Superstar Barbra Streisand‘s decision to skip the Cannes Film Festival hides the shocking secret the Funny Girl is facing the final curtain, sources tell Globe.

“On the advice of my doctors, as I continue recovering from a knee injury,” she said, per Variety, “I am sadly unable to attend the Festival de Cannes this year.”

While the 84-year-old global icon — who has long served as an advocate for women’s heart health and cofounded the Women’s Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles — cited a bum knee as her excuse, insiders say her situation is far graver. “With Barbra’s resources, a bad knee alone would never stop this trip to France,” says a pal.

“She flies private. She would have mad medical staff, assistants, whatever she needed. This is much bigger than mobility issues.”

The legendary star was set to receive the Honorary Palme d’Or, the marquee movie fest’s top noncompetitive honor, in recognition of her decades-long career as an actor, director and singer.

But Streisand announced her doctors had advised her not to attend as she recovers from a knee injury.

Despite that, insiders reveal the singer has lain low since her Oscars performance in March after what several have described as a difficult weekend.

During the Academy Awards telecast, a teary Barbra shared her favorite memories of the late Robert Redford, then belted out several lines from the theme song of their weepy 1973 drama, The Way We Were.

She ended with a dramatic vocal run that prompted the audience to break into wild applause, but the TV broadcast abruptly cut to a commercial.

The moment went viral and online pundits had a field day jabbing Babs’ performance.

“The reaction shook her confidence badly,” says a source. “Barbra has always been incredibly sensitive and when she feels exposed or vulnerable, she disappears.”

Her acceptance of the prestigious Palme d’Or was meant to be a triumphant return to the spotlight amid a glamorous celebration of her amazing career, friends say.

Instead, her failure to show has become another reminder that Streisand may be stepping away from public life for good, according to pals.

“She wanted desperately to be there,” confirms the insider. “But emotionally and physically, she’s struggling more than people realize.”

Another source says bluntly: “Don’t expect another concert. Right now the focus is Barbra’s health, her comfort and protecting her from unnecessary stress.”