Lionel Richie gave fans a frightening scare after becoming dizzy on stage and cutting short the opening night of his latest North American tour, with the music legend later reportedly taken to the hospital as a precaution.
The 77-year-old singer had been less than halfway through his highly anticipated Sing A Song All Night Long tour opener in Saint Paul, Minnesota, when the evening took an unexpected turn. While Richie tried to brush off the incident with humour, the show was ultimately abandoned, leaving thousands of fans concerned about his health and wondering whether the remaining tour dates would go ahead.
Lionel Richie Tries To Carry On Despite Feeling Unwell
Richie had been performing for around an hour when concertgoers noticed he was struggling during a performance of his classic hit Dancing on the Ceiling.
Videos shared by audience members showed the singer repeatedly sitting down on the edge of the stage as he attempted to recover before addressing the crowd with a joke.
'When you're feeling dizzy, sit your a** down,' Richie quipped, prompting a mixture of laughter and concern from fans.
Rather than ending the concert immediately, the Grammy winner pressed on and made his way to the piano, where he performed an emotional rendition of Three Times a Lady. Once the song ended, he announced there would be a short intermission, giving fans hope he would soon return.
Instead, the wait stretched to around 40 minutes before saxophonist Dino Soldo walked on stage to deliver disappointing news.
'Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well,' Soldo told the audience. 'He won't be able to continue. Additional information will be available.'
Report Says Richie Was Taken To Hospital
Shortly after the concert was called off, a media outlet reported that paramedics assessed Richie backstage before he was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
According to the outlet's sources, the hospital visit was purely precautionary after the singer experienced dizziness during the performance. No official diagnosis has been released, and Richie has not yet commented publicly on the incident.
The lack of an update has left fans anxiously awaiting news, particularly as the next stop on the tour is scheduled for 26 June in Chicago. At the time of writing, there has been no announcement confirming whether that performance or any of the remaining 25 dates will be affected.
Fans' Excitement Quickly Turned Into Concern
The health scare came just hours after Richie had enthusiastically shared his excitement about opening night.
Posting on Instagram before taking to the stage, he wrote: 'Opening night. Rehearsals. Sound check. Showtime tonight. Saint Paul, you're up!!!'
Earlier in the week, the singer also shared a behind-the-scenes clip showing crew members surprising him with a birthday cake after rehearsals, as the tour began only days after he celebrated his 77th birthday.
'A perfect way to start the tour!! Feeling grateful!! See you tonight, Saint Paul, MN,' he wrote.
The contrast between those upbeat posts and the night's dramatic ending quickly became a talking point online, with fans flooding social media with messages wishing the singer a speedy recovery.
Many praised Richie for trying to continue performing despite feeling unwell, while others said they were simply relieved he chose to stop rather than push himself further.
A Performer Who Has Never Wanted To Retire
For longtime fans, the incident came as a particular shock because Richie has often spoken about having no intention of stepping away from performing.
In a previous interview with Rolling Stone, he joked: 'They're gonna have to carry me out, babe.'
He also reflected on why retirement has never appealed to him.
'Someone asked me years ago, 'When do you plan on retiring?' And I said, 'From what?' I've never had a job. People who work want to retire.'
That passion for live performance has kept Richie touring into his seventies, with audiences continuing to flock to hear timeless hits including Hello, Easy, All Night Long and Dancing on the Ceiling.
For now, however, the focus is firmly on his health. Fans across North America are hoping the dizziness was nothing more than a temporary setback and that the music icon will soon be well enough to resume the tour. Until Richie or his representatives issue a further update, uncertainty continues to surround the remaining dates of his latest concert run.
