Lionel Richie ends tour opener early after ‘dizzy’ spell
Lionel Richie cut his Minnesota tour opener short after experiencing a “dizzy” spell, according to local reports.
Lionel Richie has reportedly been hospitalized amid his ongoing tour with Earth, Wind & Fire.
The 77-year-old “Hello” singer checked into a St. Louis, Missouri, hospital following his performance at the St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 29, The Hollywood Reporter and ABC News reported Monday, Aug. 31, citing sources close to the singer’s tour.
Richie, who might have experienced dehydration issues, hopes to be discharged Tuesday, Sept. 1, according to TMZ, which was first to report the news.
USA TODAY has reached out to Richie’s representative for comment.
Richie took a seat while performing the closing song, “All Night Long (All Night),” and sipped electrolyte drinks throughout the show, according to The St. Louis American. Videos posted on social media showed Richie, wearing a red leather jacket over an all-black outfit, sitting on a chair center stage for the hit 1983 track.
“Some things have been happening on this tour that kind of shook me up a little bit, because I couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on,” Richie said during the set, according to the newspaper’s concert review. “I went back to the doctor, and he said, ‘You are suffering from dehydration.'”
Though the St. Louis event was initially supposed to close out the tour, three dates were added in September and October due to shows that were pushed because of the performers’ health issues.
Richie’s next performance on the Sing a Song All Night Long Tour is scheduled for Sept. 26 in San Francisco. The show was previously rescheduled on Aug. 6 after John Paris experienced a “medical emergency.” The Earth, Wind & Fire drummer was put in two medically induced comas but has since regained consciousness.
On Sept. 30 and Oct. 2, Richie and the band are slated to perform in Chicago and Columbus, respectively, after postponing the concerts in June so the former Commodores frontman could “rest and return to full health.”
The rescheduling came after their St. Paul, Minnesota, show was cut short on June 24 when the singer appeared to experience dizziness onstage and remained seated while performing several songs. Richie returned to the stage for their June 30 performance in Pittsburgh.
It remains to be seen whether Richie will return for his 10th season as a judge on “American Idol,” which announced that its milestone Season 25 will air in 2027.