Lionel Richie, 77, cut short his Sing a Song All Night Long Tour with Earth, Wind & Fire after a “dizzy” spell in St. Paul. Live Nation Chicago postponed his Chicago show on Friday, June 26 and Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, June 27, with a return planned for Tue
Lionel Richie knew something was wrong before the lights fully dimmed.
At the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. Minnesota. the Grammy-winning singer appeared to get sick onstage and suffered a dizzy spell. abruptly ending the tour opener that was supposed to launch his Sing a Song All Night Long Tour with Earth. Wind & Fire. What began as a groove quickly turned into damage control—Richie sat down. delivered a line straight to the audience about his symptoms. and by the halfway point of his set. the band and stage fell quiet.
Shortly after, Richie announced an “intermission.” He didn’t return. After 15 minutes, his band left the stage. Nearly 25 more minutes passed with no word, until saxophonist Dino Soldo appeared to tell the crowd that “unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well. He won’t be able to continue.”
Richie. 77. had been performing while seated—first doing “Dancing on the Ceiling” while sitting on a step—and then. at the grand piano. moving into “Three Times a Lady.” Before that pivot. he addressed the dizziness directly. telling the audience. “When you’re feeling dizzy. sit your ass down. ” and he acknowledged he’d never sung the ’80s classic while seated.
In a statement released Thursday. June 25. Live Nation Chicago said Richie would postpone his next two shows under doctors’ advice to rest. “Under advisement by doctors to rest and return to full health. Lionel Richie has postponed his next two shows on Friday. June 26 in Chicago. and Saturday. June 27 in Columbus. ” the statement said. “He and Earth, Wind & Fire will return to the stage on Tuesday, June 30” for a show in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The stop-and-start moment in Minnesota left fans with questions that could not be answered immediately onstage. Live Nation Chicago did not provide additional details about his condition in Thursday’s statement, and Richie’s representatives were contacted for comment.
The singer’s camp tried to frame the interruption as a temporary retreat rather than an end to the run. The statement said. “Lionel is heartbroken to postpone these two shows and cannot wait to be back performing for his fans. ” and it added. “We apologize for any inconvenience this causes fans who have tickets for these two shows. Rescheduled dates will be announced soon.”.
Earlier reports from the St. Paul performance described Richie wearing leather pants and a leather jacket and noticeably sweating during his 55 minutes onstage. Earth. Wind & Fire drummer John Paris told the outlet Richie was “a little dehydrated” but said he otherwise did not know his health status.
The sequence of what happened—dizzy spell. a shortened set. an announced intermission that never ended. and a doctor-guided postponement—means the tour’s momentum now hinges on one thing: whether Richie can return by Tuesday. June 30 in Pittsburgh. For fans who planned their weekends around Chicago on June 26 and Columbus on June 27. the message was simple—rest first. stage later—and a reschedule would follow once his recovery is complete.
Lionel Richie Earth Wind & Fire Sing a Song All Night Long Tour Live Nation Chicago concert postponed dizzy spell Chicago June 26 Columbus June 27 Pittsburgh June 30 Grand Casino Arena St. Paul