Lionel Richie's Children Urge Him to Slow Down After Recent Hospitalizations
Concerned about their father's health, Richie's kids want him to take a break from touring.
Lionel Richie's children are expressing concern for their father's well-being and are encouraging him to reduce his touring schedule following his latest hospitalization. A source close to the family told Page Six that the singer's kids are worried he is overexerting himself, especially after recent health scares.
"Seeing him have these health scares is obviously scary for them," the insider said. "And they wish he would give himself more time to rest and just hit the pause button once in a while."
Richie, 77, underwent a common procedure for Atrial fibrillation (AFib), according to his representative. The statement added, "The doctor said everything went perfectly. Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon."
Despite their concerns, Richie's children understand the importance of his music career. "They know how much music and performing mean to him, and they would never expect him to completely give that up," the source explained. "But they’d definitely like to see him take it a little easier and put his health first."
This recent hospitalization follows a series of health issues. In late August, Richie spent three days in the hospital after experiencing difficulties during a concert in St. Louis, Missouri. He reportedly requested a chair during his final song and was subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit of a local hospital.
Earlier in the summer, in June, Richie was hospitalized after feeling dizzy during the opening night of his North American tour with Earth, Wind & Fire in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was forced to sit multiple times during his performance and the concert was ultimately canceled, along with subsequent dates in Chicago and Columbus, Ohio.
Following the June incident, Richie reassured his fans that he was recovering and expressed gratitude for their support. The cancellations at that time included his next three tour dates in San Francisco, Chicago, and Columbus. The singer shares daughter Nicole, 45, and son Miles, 32, with ex-wife Diane Alexander, and daughter Sofia, 28, with ex-wife Brenda Harvey-Richie.