Comedian Larry the Cable Guy is back home and "feeling much better" after a late-night trip to a Lincoln, Nebraska, hospital ended with an appendicitis diagnosis, the latest health scare to sideline a beloved entertainer.

The comedian, born Daniel Lawrence Whitney, was rushed to the hospital late Thursday night after falling ill, Page Six reported. Doctors diagnosed him with appendicitis, an inflammation of the appendix that often requires surgical removal of the organ. His representative confirmed the hospitalization and said Whitney spent a couple of days under medical care before being discharged.

By Saturday, the 63-year-old was home. His representative said he "was discharged today and is recovering well," adding that "he's in good spirits and feeling much better." The hospital where Whitney was treated was not identified, and his team did not say whether he underwent surgery.

From Blue Collar Comedy to Pixar, Whitney built a career on working-class humor

Whitney is one of the most commercially successful comedians of his generation. He rose to national fame as part of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, which ran from 2000 to 2006 alongside Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, and Ron White. The group released a documentary film in 2003 and spawned the sketch comedy series "Blue Collar TV," which aired from 2004 to 2006.

His signature character, the drawling, flannel-wearing everyman, landed him the voice role of Mater in Disney and Pixar's "Cars" franchise. He voiced the tow truck across three films released in 2006, 2011, and 2017, cementing his place in pop culture well beyond the standup circuit. He also competed on Season 6 of "The Masked Singer" in 2021 and appeared in Taylor Sheridan's hit series "Yellowstone" the same year.

Whitney has been married to his wife, Cara, since 2005. They share two children, Wyatt and Reagan.

Celebrity health emergencies have made headlines with increasing frequency. Ruby Rose was recently hospitalized with broken ribs after a pool accident, a reminder that sudden medical crises spare no one regardless of fame or fortune.

Whitney brushed off critics weeks before the health scare

Earlier this month, Whitney sat down with Us Weekly and addressed the state of comedy in an increasingly politicized culture. He was characteristically blunt.

"We live in the United States of America, somebody doesn't want to like your act then don't go see that person's act. It's as simple as that."

He followed up with a line that sounded like a man who had long stopped worrying about approval from the cultural establishment:

"I don't worry about it. I already got a pretty good, built-in following and I got some awesome fans. You know, if I think it's funny I'm going to do it and we'll see where it goes."

That attitude has served Whitney well. While plenty of comedians have bent to social pressure or softened their material to avoid online backlash, Whitney has kept doing what built his audience in the first place, speaking to the people the entertainment industry often ignores.

Similar sudden medical episodes have rattled fans of other performers in recent months. Actor Ving Rhames collapsed at a Los Angeles restaurant and was hospitalized before being released, another case of a well-known figure facing an unexpected health crisis.

Whitney's representative did not say whether any upcoming tour dates or professional commitments would be affected by the hospitalization. TMZ was the first outlet to report the news of his emergency visit.

A comedian who built his career talking to the people Washington and Hollywood forgot, here's hoping he's back on stage soon, doing exactly what he wants.