Lionel Richie has postponed the next two dates on his summer tour after becoming ill during the opening night of his co-headlining trek with Earth, Wind & Fire. The health scare forced the music legend to end his concert in Minnesota early, leaving fans awaiting his return to the stage.
According to ABC Chicago, the 77-year-old icon had been performing for nearly an hour in Saint Paul when he began experiencing dizziness during his performance of the classic hit “Dancing on the Ceiling.” Videos circulating online showed Richie taking a seat on stage as he addressed the audience with humor.
“When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your a– down,” he joked, prompting loud cheers from the crowd.
Richie later returned briefly to perform “Three Times a Lady” before stepping away for an intermission. However, he did not make it back to the stage. Saxophonist Dino Soldo later informed the audience that the concert had been canceled because Richie was “not feeling well.”
In the aftermath of the incident, Live Nation announced that doctors had advised the legendary singer to take a short break from touring while he recovered. As a result, his scheduled performances in Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, have been postponed, with new dates expected to be announced soon. The tour is currently set to resume on Tuesday, June 30, in Pittsburgh.
While Richie’s team has not revealed the exact cause of his illness, several reports indicate that he was taken to a hospital for precautionary evaluation following the show.
In a statement released by Live Nation and the concert venues, organizers said Richie was “heartbroken to postpone these two shows and cannot wait to be back performing for his fans.”
The statement continued, “We apologize for any inconvenience this causes fans who have tickets for these two shows. Rescheduled dates will be announced soon.”
Just before kicking off the tour on June 24, Richie shared his excitement on Instagram, writing, “Opening night. Rehearsals. Sound check. Showtime tonight. Saint Paul, you’re up!!!”
While Richie’s team has yet to confirm the exact cause of the health scare, Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris suggested the singer was “a little dehydrated.” He added that he could not speak on Richie’s overall condition. The update has sparked hope among fans that the setback is only temporary, though doctors have advised the music icon to rest before resuming the tour.
The Sing A Song All Night Long tour marks the first time this summer that Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire have joined forces for an extensive North American tour, with performances scheduled across the U.S. throughout the season.
