Lionel Richie Steps Out for Dinner Party Following Hospitalization

Lionel Richie made his first public appearance on Saturday evening since being released from the hospital earlier this month. The 77-year-old R&B legend was seen attending a dinner party at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills, appearing in high spirits and flashing a double thumbs-up to onlookers. He was accompanied by his girlfriend of over a decade, Lisa Parigi.

Richie's outing comes nearly three weeks after he was hospitalized in St. Louis, Missouri, following an on-stage incident. Video from the concert showed the singer appearing to struggle to perform his final song, 'All Night Long,' at The Muny in Forest Park. During the performance, Richie seemed to be out of breath at times and took a seat on a piano bench for the remainder of the song.

During his hospital stay, Richie underwent tests for "cardiac-related issues." Sources indicated that the singer checked himself into the hospital as a precaution, and medical professionals reportedly explored the possibility of dehydration.

This recent health scare followed a similar incident two months prior. In June, Richie was forced to cut short a concert in St. Paul, Minnesota, due to feeling unwell on stage. During that performance, videos showed him sitting down multiple times and reportedly telling the crowd he felt "dizzy."

After the St. Paul concert concluded early, paramedics met Richie backstage, and he was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. While his loved ones expressed concern for his health, a source close to the singer suggested that Richie was more focused on his fans not receiving a full show than on his own well-being, emphasizing his dedication to his career and his desire to return to performing.

Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire, who had been on a joint tour, are scheduled to reunite for a three-date mini-tour in late September and early October, with stops in San Francisco, Chicago, and Columbus, Ohio.