Lionel Richie’s tour kickoff took a scary turn after the music legend reportedly became ill mid-concert and was transported to a hospital following his St. Paul, Minnesota show.
According to TMZ, Richie was performing at Grand Casino Arena on Wednesday night when he told the crowd he felt “dizzy” and “strange.” The 77-year-old singer was in the middle of “Dancing on the Ceiling,” one of the most energetic moments in his set, when he sat down on a stage platform and tried to push through the performance.
Videos from the concert showed Richie attempting to keep the mood light despite the concerning moment. At one point, he joked that the best thing to do in that situation was to “sit your ass down.” He later performed “Three Times a Lady” while seated at the piano before taking an unexpected intermission.
After Richie left the stage, his saxophonist Dino Soldo addressed the audience and confirmed the show would not continue. “Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well,” Soldo told the crowd, according to Page Six. “He won’t be able to continue. Additional information will be available.”
TMZ reported that paramedics met Richie backstage and that he was taken by ambulance to a hospital as a precaution. His current condition has not been publicly confirmed. Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris said Richie did not show signs of being sick before the concert and suggested dehydration may have played a role.
The incident happened on the opening night of Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Sing A Song All Night Long” tour. Richie’s official tour schedule still lists upcoming dates, including Chicago on June 26 and Columbus on June 27.
While this dizzy spell has not been tied to any known recurring condition, Richie has faced major health setbacks during his decades-long career. In the early 1990s, he underwent four throat surgeries while dealing with a mysterious vocal issue that nearly cost him his voice. He later told People the ordeal brought him “about as close as you ever would’ve come to a nervous breakdown.”
ABC News previously reported that Richie was eventually diagnosed with acid reflux, which had been affecting his voice. He later changed his nighttime eating habits and recovered.
In 2017, Richie also postponed his tour with Mariah Carey after a knee procedure delayed his recovery. TMZ reported at the time that he had a preexisting knee problem, while tour reports said he was not “100 percent ready” to return to the road.
For now, fans are waiting for an official update as one of music’s most enduring performers faces another unexpected health scare.
