Lionel Richie‘s latest tour hit an unexpected hiatus after the music icon suffered a frightening health scare in front of thousands of fans.
The legendary singer shocked concertgoers when he suddenly stopped performing on the opening night of his Sing A Song All Night Long tour, before leaving the venue in an ambulance as a precaution.
Now the 77-year-old has postponed his upcoming shows while doctors monitor his condition, with those close to him apparently urging the workaholic artist to prioritize his health.
Lionel Richie postpones two concerts following medical scare
Just one day after stopping his performance in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lionel Richie announced that his next two concerts would no longer take place.
A statement released by the United Center in Chicago confirmed that the Grammy winner had been advised to step away from the stage while he recovers.
“On advice from doctors to rest and return to full health, Lionel Richie has postponed his next two shows on Friday, June 26 in Chicago, IL and Saturday, June 27 in Columbus, OH,” it reads.
The release adds that Richie and his tour mates Earth, Wind & Fire are scheduled to resume the Sing A Song All Night Long Tour on Tuesday, June 30 in Pittsburgh.
“Lionel is heartbroken to postpone these two shows and looks forward to returning to perform for his fans. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes to fans who have tickets to these two shows. The rescheduled dates will be announced soon,” the statement said.
Richie struggled to perform before requesting an intermission
BREAKING: Lionel Ritchie concert in St Paul at the Grand Casino Arena canceled mid-show. Ritchie sat on stage during “Dancing on the Ceiling,” said he felt dizzy. Performed another song on the piano, “Three Times a Lady,” then announced an unscheduled intermission. I didn’t come back. pic.twitter.com/RNalkYHnmG
– Patrick Kessler (@PatKessler) June 25, 2026
As The Blast reported, the scary moment happened during the opening concert for Lionel Richie’s latest tour at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
After performing “Three Times A Lady” behind the piano, Richie unexpectedly called an intermission after telling the audience he was feeling “dizzy.”
Fans quickly realized something was wrong when more than 40 minutes passed without the singer returning to the stage. Finally, saxophonist Dino Soldo addressed the audience.
“Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well,” he said. “He will not be able to continue. Additional information will become available.”
Videos shared online showed the “We Are the World” singer appearing increasingly unstable during “Dancing On The Ceiling.” Audience members also remember Richie trying to reassure the crowd while acknowledging he wasn’t feeling his best.
An onlooker said Richie told his fans: “He’s been in this business long enough, if you feel dizzy, you sit down! And if you don’t feel good, you sit down!”
Lionel Richie fans watched the situation unfold in real time
Before the concert officially ended, fans witnessed several disturbing moments that suggested Richie was in trouble.
Footage posted online showed him briefly sitting on the edge of a raised platform before getting up to continue singing.
However, less than 30 seconds later, he sat on the other side of the stage again while continuing to perform.
According to reports, Soldo even sat next to Richie during part of “Dancing On The Ceiling” as the singer attempted to finish the performance.
Once Richie’s band quietly left the stage, audience members slowly realized that the concert would not continue, and many began to leave the venue before the official announcement.
Lionel Richie’s entourage would be worried
Although Richie has not publicly revealed the cause of the episode, those close to the singer are reportedly concerned that he may have pushed himself too much.
A source told Daily Mail that his family, friends, and even bandmates are increasingly concerned about his relentless schedule.
“Family, friends and even band members are really concerned about Lionel’s health, but no one is about to tell him to slow down,” the source explained.
According to the source, the Grammy Award winner’s dedication to the stage has remained unchanged since his days with the Commodores decades ago.
“The Lionel we see on tour and on American Idol is the same Lionel we’ve known for decades – he’s still moving, still working, and still looking forward to the next show,” they said.
The source added that Richie’s passion for performing continues to motivate him, sharing, “Music isn’t just his job; it’s what keeps him going. He’s not someone who sits still, and retirement was never really a part of the conversation unless his health left him no other choice.”
Richie is more focused on the fans than himself
Despite the alarming health issues, the source claimed that Lionel Richie’s biggest concern was not his health, but rather the disappointing viewers.
“Right now, Lionel is actually more upset about the fans not getting the full show they paid for than he is about himself and his health. That’s where his head is at,” they explained.
The source added that the icon is eager to return to the stage as quickly as doctors allow. They revealed Richie hoped to receive some reassuring news soon.
“He’s really hoping to get back to doing what he loves, and he’s already hoping to go to Chicago this weekend if all goes well,” the source said.
As Richie continues to undergo a medical evaluation, the source said the legendary artist remains optimistic.
According to them, “he is still waiting for some more answers about what he is facing, but he thinks this could be just a small episode in something very serious.”
