Lionel Richie is stepping away from the stage again as he deals with ongoing heart concerns.
The 77-year-old singer was recently hospitalized and underwent a procedure to treat atrial fibrillation, commonly called AFib. Richie’s representative confirmed the procedure on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
“The doctor said everything went perfectly,” his representative said. “Lionel is doing great but will take some time off.”
The representative also said Richie is expected to return to the stage soon. The latest health setback has affected Richie’s “Sing a Song All Night Long” tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. Three upcoming concerts have been canceled while the Grammy-winning singer recovers.
Those performances were scheduled for Sept. 26 in San Francisco, Sept. 30 in Chicago and Oct. 2 in Columbus, Ohio. The cancellations come after several health-related interruptions for Richie throughout the summer.
Richie has faced several health scares this summer
Richie previously experienced a health scare during the tour’s opening night in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 24. During the concert, Richie told the audience he was feeling dizzy and eventually performed while seated.
Two upcoming performances in Chicago and Columbus were postponed afterward. Doctors reportedly advised Richie to rest before returning to the road.
He resumed performing days later, joining Earth, Wind & Fire for a June 30 concert in Pittsburgh. Richie addressed his decision to slow down during another performance.
“What I have learned from my years of being in the business, when you’re feeling dizzy, sit your ass down,” Richie said.
Another hospitalization followed in late August after Richie performed at The Muny in St. Louis. Richie checked himself into a hospital as a precaution following the concert, according to ABC News.
Audience members reportedly saw Richie sit during portions of the show, including his closing performance of “All Night Long.” He later returned home following the hospital stay.
What is atrial fibrillation?
Richie’s latest hospitalization provides more information about the heart issues affecting his recent performances. Atrial fibrillation causes the heart’s upper chambers to beat irregularly instead of maintaining a normal rhythm. The condition can cause fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Richie reportedly underwent an ablation procedure to address the condition. The minimally invasive procedure targets areas of heart tissue responsible for faulty electrical signals. The goal is to restore a regular heartbeat. Despite the latest cancellations, Richie’s team has indicated that the singer intends to return to performing.
Richie currently has “King of Hearts” residency performances scheduled at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas beginning Oct. 14. The residency includes additional performances through November.