Bobby Brown to go on BBQ sauce tour and leave daughter's side for first time

US R&B singer Bobby Brown will leave his daughters' side for the first time in two months as he prepares to showcase his line of BBQ sauces at the Soul Food Festival in Los Angeles.

Brown's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, was found unconscious and face-down in a bathtub on 31 January and has been hospitalised in a coma since. Her 46-year-old father has constantly been by her side and TMZ has reported that Brown was unhappy to leave his 22-year-old daughter as she remains under medical care, but he is being held to his contractual obligations by promoters.

Brown was reportedly flying Friday (10 April) afternoon for his appearance at the LA Soul Food Festival as part of a deal which was signed before his daughter was taken ill.

The singer will then travel down under to play three shows in Australia with Treach and Kay-Gee of Naughty By Nature at the end of May. TMZ reports that "the promoter is demanding he perform" in Australia.

Bobbi Kristina received medical treatment at the Emory University Hospital before being moved to a long-term care facility in Atlanta, Georgia. Her father is said to be distraught at having to leave his daughter as she fights for her life. The gigs will replace Brown's appearances which were cancelled in March to be with Bobbi Kristina.

A family source has told People that Bobbi Kristina is being tended to in a "quiet and peaceful" room at the centre, where there are a few homely items.

"The family has brought some things from home for her. Not much – just a few things, like a blanket and some pictures," they told People magazine.

"Everyone's all cried out by now. We love her and want her to recover," the source added.