Lionel Richie Pauses Tour After Heart Procedure
The singer underwent a procedure for atrial fibrillation and is recovering, with his representative confirming everything went perfectly.
Lionel Richie is taking a break from his tour as he recovers from a heart procedure, a representative for the singer confirmed on Wednesday.
Richie underwent a common procedure for atrial fibrillation, also known as A-fib. According to the representative, the doctor stated that "everything went perfectly." The statement added that "Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon."
Atrial fibrillation is described as a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can increase the risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart failure. Some research suggests that more than 10 million Americans may have the condition, with most being older adults.
This is not the first time Richie's tour has seen disruptions this year. In June, the 77-year-old singer postponed two concerts after falling ill. In August, reports circulated online about Richie being admitted to a hospital following a performance in St. Louis.
Richie was scheduled to perform with Earth, Wind & Fire on September 30 in Chicago and October 3 in Columbus, Ohio. His website indicates that he is currently slated to launch his "King of Hearts" residency shows at Las Vegas’ the Wynn in October and November.
Richie, an Oscar and four-time Grammy Award winner, began his music career with The Commodores before achieving success as a solo artist. He is known for hits like "Hello" and co-wrote the charity single "We Are the World" with Michael Jackson. Richie has sold over 100 million records and also serves as a judge on "American Idol."