Legendary singer Lionel Richie was forced to end the opening night of his latest tour early after becoming ill onstage in Minnesota.
The 77-year-old performer appeared to experience dizziness during his June 24 concert at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. The show marked the opening date of his North American co-headlining tour with Earth, Wind & Fire.
Richie had performed for nearly an hour before signs of discomfort became apparent. While singing his 1986 hit “Dancing on the Ceiling,” he paused and sat down onstage.
“When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your ass down,” Richie told the audience, drawing laughter from concertgoers despite the unexpected moment. “This is the first time in my life I’ve sung ‘Dancing on the Ceiling’ sitting down. It’s a bad sign.”
He later moved to the piano and completed a performance of “Three Times a Lady.” Fans initially believed the singer was taking a brief intermission. However, he never returned to the stage.
Concert Ends Early
Instead, Richie’s saxophonist, Dino Soldo, addressed the crowd with an update.
“I just wanted to come out and let you know that Lionel wasn’t feeling well,” Soldo said. “He wanted me to tell you he loves you all. He had an amazing time tonight. He was looking so forward to the show. Unfortunately, as you can see, he just can’t continue. So we’re sorry, but we’re going to have to end the show here.”
The concert ended after approximately 55 minutes. Richie had been scheduled to perform for about 90 minutes. Fans were left disappointed but many expressed concern for the singer’s health instead.
Following the performance, reports indicated Richie was transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Neither his representatives nor tour promoter Live Nation immediately released an official statement regarding his condition.
Tour Continues Under Watch
Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris later shared that Richie had not appeared seriously ill before taking the stage.
According to Paris, Richie seemed to be dealing with dehydration rather than a more serious medical issue. He said the singer showed no obvious signs of illness before the performance began.
The St. Paul concert launched the pair’s “Sing Along All Night Long” tour, a 26-date North American run scheduled to visit major cities through mid-August. Stops include Chicago, Toronto, New York, Los Angeles and several other markets before Richie heads overseas for additional dates in Europe and Brazil.
The health scare comes during another busy year for Richie. In addition to touring, the Grammy-winning singer continues serving as a judge on American Idol. His career spans more than five decades, beginning with the Commodores before launching a successful solo career that produced classics including “Hello,” “All Night Long,” “Say You, Say Me” and “Endless Love.”
As of Thursday afternoon, organizers had not announced any cancellations or postponements. Richie’s next scheduled performance remained set for Chicago. Fans are awaiting an official update on his health and whether the remainder of the tour will proceed as planned.