Lionel Richie, 77, Abandons Saint Paul Concert After Falling Ill on Opening Tour Night

Q: What is Lionel Richie's true health condition, and will his entire summer tour now be cancelled?

There is no confirmed diagnosis for Lionel Richie at this point, and there is no official indication that his entire summer tour has been canceled. What is known is that Richie, 77, stopped his opening-night performance in St. Paul after telling the crowd he felt dizzy during “Dancing on the Ceiling.” Videos from attendees appeared to show him looking unsteady and sitting down onstage before finishing “Three Times a Lady.” A band member later told the audience Richie was “not feeling well” and could not continue. Beyond that, neither Richie nor his representatives have released a medical explanation. Dizziness can be caused by something relatively minor, such as dehydration or an inner-ear problem, but it can also signal a more serious issue. Without a statement from his camp or doctors, any firmer claim about his “true” condition would be speculation. As for the tour, only the St. Paul show has been cut short so far. The 26-date North American run with Earth, Wind & Fire is still on the schedule through Aug. 14, with the next stop set for Chicago on June 26. No announcement has been made about canceling the full tour, rescheduling St. Paul, or issuing refunds. The practical answer is that Richie's health status and the fate of upcoming dates remain under review. Fans should watch for updates from Richie’s official channels, the tour promoter, and venues, because those sources will determine whether any additional shows are postponed or canceled.

3 articles · Updated · The Daily Beast · Jun 25

Lionel Richie stopped his Saint Paul show during the first hour Wednesday, sat down mid-song, played one more number at the piano, then never returned from an announced intermission.
Fans and local journalist Patrick Kessler said Richie told the crowd he felt dizzy, and a band member later said the 77-year-old singer was not feeling well.
The concert was the opening date of Richie's joint "Sing A Song All Night Long" tour with Earth, Wind & Fire at Grand Casino Arena in Minnesota.
Richie had promoted the show heavily beforehand, but had not publicly explained the episode by the report's publication; it was still unclear whether Friday's Chicago date would be affected.