Lionel Richie Postpones Concerts Following Doctors’ Advice to Rest

Lionel Richie has postponed his next two concerts on advice from his doctors after cutting short his concert in St. Paul, Minnesota earlier this week.

“Under advisement by doctors to rest and return to full health, Lionel Richie has postponed his next two concerts,” a statement from the singer’s team read. “Lionel is heartbroken to postpone these two shows and cannot wait to be back performing for his fans.”

The impacted shows are Richie’s June 26 gig in Chicago and June 27 in Columbus, Ohio; rescheduled dates were not announced at press time. The singer is expected back on the stage on June 30 in Pittsburgh, the statement added.

On Wednesday night, after performing “Three Times a Lady” in St. Paul — where Richie opened his co-headlining tour with Earth, Wind & Fire — saxophonist Dino Soldo told the crowd the rest of the concert was canceled. “Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well,” he said. “He won’t be able to continue with the show.”

The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that Richie, 77, had told the fans he was feeling dizzy and strange, so he performed “Dancing on the Ceiling” sitting down. “When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your ass down,” he said. After “Three Times a Lady,” which he sang seated at a piano, he said there would be an intermission but did not return to the stage. His backing band remained onstage for around 15 minutes while the audience of 10,000 waited; Soldo’s announcement that Richie wouldn’t be returning came after 40 minutes. Richie was onstage for less than an hour.

The concert was to be the kickoff of a tour for Richie and Earth, Wind, and Fire. The latter group’s John Paris told the Star Tribune he believed Richie was “a little dehydrated” and that Richie had seemed normal before the concert. The tour is scheduled to resume in Chicago on Friday.

Page Six has reported that Richie was hospitalized after the concert. “We did transport an adult male from the arena last night to a local hospital,” Saint Paul Fire Department PIO Jamie Smith told the gossip sheet. (A rep for Richie did not immediately return Rolling Stone’s request for comment.)

In 2020, Richie told Rolling Stone he had no plans to retire. “They’re gonna have to carry me out, babe,” he said. “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.”