Lionel Richie's opening night of his 26-city North American tour was cut short Thursday when the 77-year-old singer fell ill onstage in St. Paul, Minnesota. Richie appeared to struggle during the song “Dancing on the Ceiling” about an hour into his performance at the Grand Casino Arena, videos circulating on social media showed.
During the song, Richie sat down multiple times and told the audience, “When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your ass down.” He then moved to the piano to perform “Three Times a Lady” before calling for an intermission. After approximately 15 minutes, his band returned to the stage, but saxophonist Dino Soldo eventually informed the audience that Richie was not feeling well and could not continue.
"Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well,” Soldo announced. “He won’t be able to continue. Additional information will be available.”
Prior to the concert, Richie had expressed his excitement about starting the tour, sharing a post on Instagram: “Opening night. Rehearsals. Sound check. Showtime tonight. Saint Paul, you’re up!!!” He also thanked his band and crew for their hard work in preparing for the tour.
The show on Thursday marked the beginning of Richie's tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. The tour is scheduled to continue Friday night in Chicago, but Richie's ability to perform remains uncertain following the abrupt ending of the Minnesota concert.
Despite this recent setback, Richie, a Grammy winner, has previously stated he has no plans for retirement. In a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, he remarked, “They’re gonna have to carry me out, babe.” He added that he still felt like he was 19 years old and enjoyed the “fun and adventure” of life on the road.