Why Richie Sambora Didn't Attend Jon Bon Jovi's MusiCares Person of the Year Ceremony (Exclusive)

Richie Sambora missed Jon Bon Joni's 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year ceremony on Friday for one important reason — his mom.

A source tells PEOPLE that Sambora's 89-year-old mother "tripped on her carpet," causing her to fall and break her hip last week. According to the source, Sambora, 64, has been caring for her in his home state of New Jersey.

"She's been in rehab and recovering, and he went through the whole house and renovated it. He bought her smaller furniture to make it easier for her," the source tells PEOPLE.

"She didn't want to stay in the hospital, so he got her 24-hour care. He's an only child and a devoted son," the source adds. "They're first-generation immigrants, so family is very important to him."

On Friday, Bon Jovi, 61, was honored for his philanthropic work with the JBJ Soul Foundation. The Recording Academy's philanthropic organization celebrated his efforts with a gala that included a cocktail reception, dinner, and performances from artists playing tribute to the rocker. 

Fans can expect the Jon Bon Jovi frontman and his former bandmate to recall their rise to stardom in the upcoming four-part docuseries Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, set to premiere on Hulu on April 26.

"The series relives the triumphs and setbacks, greatest hits, biggest disappointments, and most public moments of friction," a project description reads.

Along with 40 years' worth of personal videos, the docuseries will feature unreleased demos, original lyrics, and "never-before-seen photos that chronicle the journey from Jersey Shore clubs to the biggest stages on the planet."

News of a docuseries comes years after Sambora decided to leave the band in 2013. Bon Jovi told PEOPLE in 2016 that it had been a while since they last spoke.

"The same place it stood three and a half years ago," he said when asked where their relationship stood. "Nobody has spoken to him. I'm never going to badmouth the guy. He's a wonderful friend, wonderful collaborator."

In 2020, Sambora told PEOPLE he had no regrets about his decision.

"It wasn't a popular decision by any means, obviously, but there was really almost no choice about it. I had a lot of conscious work to do around [my personal life]. We've been through a lot of things together. That was a time of psychological maintenance for the family. You know, I ain't no angel. But I realized Ava needed me to be around at that point in time," he told PEOPLE. "Family had to come first, and that's what happened."

Sambora hasn't ruled out the possibility of a reunion, however. He told PEOPLE in November 2023 that it "definitely could happen."

"It's just a question of when everybody's ready to go do it. It will be a big, massive kind of undertaking," he told PEOPLE.