Lionel Richie was hospitalized in St. Louis, Missouri, on Saturday evening after appearing to struggle during the final song of his concert. The singer checked himself into a facility for tests and was treated in the intensive care unit, according to TMZ. He was reportedly still in the hospital as of Monday afternoon and was expected to be released Tuesday.
Sources indicated that Richie sought medical attention out of an abundance of caution, with doctors reportedly exploring the possibility of dehydration. The incident occurred shortly after his performance at The Muny in Forest Park.
Video footage from the concert shows Richie, 77, appearing to be out of breath and needing to sit on a piano bench during his performance of "All Night Long." A stagehand brought the bench onto the stage within 30 seconds of the song's start, and Richie remained seated for the remainder of the performance. At one point, he gestured for the bench to be moved closer to the front of the stage.
This recent health scare is reminiscent of a prior incident in June, when Richie was performing in St. Paul, Minnesota. During that concert, he had to cut his performance short after falling ill on stage. Attendees reported that he appeared unsteady, stopped to sit down multiple times, and told the crowd he was feeling "dizzy."
Following the St. Paul show, a band member informed the audience that Richie was "not feeling well" and could not continue the performance. Sources close to the singer at the time told TMZ that paramedics met Richie backstage, and he was taken by ambulance to a hospital. Despite these concerns, sources also suggested that Richie is highly dedicated to his work and may prioritize performing over his own health, with his mindset often focused on returning to the road as quickly as possible.
Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire, who were on a joint tour, are scheduled to reunite for a three-date mini-tour beginning September 26 in San Francisco.