Lionel Richie Pauses Touring for Heart Procedure Recovery
The legendary singer is recovering well after a common procedure for atrial fibrillation, with plans to return to the stage soon.
Lionel Richie is temporarily halting his touring schedule as he recovers from a heart procedure, a representative confirmed Wednesday.
Richie underwent a common procedure for atrial fibrillation, also known as A-fib, a condition characterized by a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can increase the risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart failure. His representative stated that the procedure went perfectly and that Richie is "doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon."
This break follows earlier postponements of two concerts in June due to illness and reports of Richie seeking hospital care in St. Louis in August.
Richie, 77, was scheduled to perform with Earth, Wind & Fire on September 30 in Chicago and on October 3 in Columbus, Ohio. His planned "King of Hearts" residency shows at Wynn in Las Vegas, scheduled for October and November, are also likely to be affected by this hiatus.
An Oscar and four-time Grammy Award winner, Richie began his career with The Commodores before achieving significant success as a solo artist. He has sold over 100 million records and co-wrote the charity single "We Are the World" with Michael Jackson. Richie also currently serves as a judge on "American Idol."