Lionel Richie has postponed the next two stops on his summer tour after falling ill during the opening night of his co-headlining run with Earth, Wind & Fire, forcing the music icon to cut his Minnesota performance short and leaving fans waiting for his return to the stage.
According to ABC Chicago, the 77-year-old singer was nearly an hour into his concert in Saint Paul when he began feeling dizzy while performing his classic hit "Dancing on the Ceiling." Videos shared online showed Richie sitting on stage, addressing the crowd directly. "When you're feeling dizzy, sit your a-- down," he joked, drawing cheers from the audience.
He later performed "Three Times a Lady" before leaving the stage for an intermission. He never returned, and saxophonist Dino Soldo informed concertgoers that the show would not continue because Richie was "not feeling well."
Following the incident, Live Nation announced that doctors advised Richie to pause the tour while he recovers. His show in Chicago and performance in Columbus, Ohio, have both been postponed, with replacement dates expected to be announced later. The tour is currently scheduled to resume on Tuesday, June 30, in Pittsburgh.
Richie's representatives have not disclosed a specific diagnosis, although multiple reports said he was taken to a hospital as a precaution after the show.
In a statement shared by Live Nation and venue partners, organizers said Richie was "heartbroken to postpone these two shows and cannot wait to be back performing for his fans." The statement added, "We apologize for any inconvenience this causes fans who have tickets for these two shows. Rescheduled dates will be announced soon."
While Richie's camp has not confirmed what caused the medical episode, Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris said the singer was "a little dehydrated” and could not say for certain what Richie's overall condition was. That explanation has fueled optimism that the setback may be temporary, though doctors have instructed the singer to rest before returning to the road.
The Sing A Song All Night Long tour marks the first time this summer that Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire have teamed up for an extensive North American run, with dates scheduled across the country through the season.
