Lionel Richie has postponed his next two concerts after receiving medical advice to rest, following a shortened performance 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 affected shows were slated for June 26 in Chicago and June 27 in Columbus, Ohio. Rescheduling details have not been announced, though Richie is expected to resume the tour on June 30 in Pittsburgh.
During the St. Paul concert, Richie opened his co‑headlining tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. After performing “Three Times a Lady,” saxophonist Dino Soldo told the audience that the remainder of the show was canceled, explaining that Richie was not feeling well. The 77‑year‑old singer had reported feeling dizzy and performed several songs while seated before leaving the stage. His backing band remained on stage for about 15 minutes while the 10,000‑plus fans waited; Soldo’s announcement came roughly 40 minutes later. Richie’s appearance lasted less than an hour.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Richie was later taken to a local hospital after the concert, citing a statement from the Saint Paul Fire Department.
In 2020, Richie told Rolling Stone he had no intention of retiring, saying, “They’re gonna have to carry me out, babe…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.”