Singer Lionel Richie is on the road to recovery following a medical emergency that occurred during a concert in St. Paul, Minnesota, his ex-wife Brenda Harvey Richie announced. The 77-year-old performer was performing at the Grand Casino Arena when he cut the show short, telling the audience he felt dizzy and had to perform seated.
Richie's team has since postponed two upcoming shows on his "Sing A Song All Night Long" tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. A statement indicated that doctors advised him to rest and return to full health. The postponed dates include shows in Chicago, Illinois, and Columbus, Ohio. The tour is expected to resume on June 30 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Brenda Harvey Richie, who was married to the singer from 1975 to 1993, took to X (formerly Twitter) to address concerns. "Thanking everyone for their concern! Lionel is OK and will be back on the stage," she wrote. Richie himself expressed his disappointment over the postponement, stating he was "heartbroken" to cancel the shows and could not wait to perform for his fans again.
Sources close to Richie suggest that while friends and family are concerned about his health, his focus remains on his passion for performing. "Music isn't just his job; it's what keeps him going," an insider told the Daily Mail. "He's not someone who sits still, and retirement has never really been part of the conversation unless his health leaves him with no other choice." The source added that Richie is more concerned about fans not receiving the full show they paid for than his own well-being, viewing the incident as a temporary setback.
The on-stage incident occurred during Richie's performance of "Dancing On The Ceiling." Videos from the concert showed the singer stopping to sit down multiple times, reportedly telling the crowd he was feeling "dizzy." Despite feeling unwell, he continued to sing.
Paramedics met Richie backstage and he was taken to a local hospital by ambulance as a precautionary measure, according to sources. His saxophonist, Dino Soldo, informed the audience that Richie would not be able to continue the show due to illness. Fans at the concert noted that Richie had signaled he wasn't feeling well throughout the performance, advising the audience to sit if they felt dizzy. Richie himself was quoted as saying, "When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your a** down."