Lionel Richie gave fans an unexpected scare during the opening night of his latest tour. The music icon was forced to end his Minnesota concert early after becoming ill while performing onstage.
The 77-year-old singer had just kicked off his Sing Along All Night Long Tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. What began as a celebration of decades of hits quickly turned into a health concern that left concertgoers hoping for a speedy recovery.
Lionel Richie abruptly stops his St. Paul concert after having a health scare on stage
Richie was about 55 minutes into his set at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, when he began feeling dizzy during a performance of “Dancing on the Ceiling.” He sat down on a platform before joking with the crowd, “When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your a** down,” as reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Rather than ending the show immediately, Richie moved to the piano and performed Three Times a Lady while seated. He then announced an unexpected intermission.
Fans waited as his band remained onstage for several minutes. Around 40 minutes later, saxophonist Dino Soldo returned to deliver disappointing news. “Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well. He won’t be able to continue,” Soldo told the audience, according to TMZ.
The concert had been scheduled to run about 90 minutes. It marked the first stop on Richie’s 26-date North American tour alongside Earth, Wind & Fire, with upcoming performances planned in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and other cities.
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris said Richie appeared fine before taking the stage and later described him as “a little dehydrated.”
Videos shared online showed Richie remaining upbeat despite the setback. TMZ reported that the singer smiled through the moment and even laughed about performing seated for the first time. As of publication, Richie’s representatives have not issued an official update on his condition. His next scheduled performance remains set for Chicago.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK LIONEL RICHIE SHOULD TAKE EXTRA TIME TO RECOVER BEFORE RETURNING TO HIS TOUR?
