Lionel Richie had to cut short his concert at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, after experiencing dizziness mid-performance. The 77-year-old singer was kicking off his North American tour that evening. Sing a Song All Night Long, shared with Earth, Wind & FireThe show was intended to kick off a series of 26 dates.
Lionel Richie sings Dancing on the Ceiling assis
The illness occurred during Dancing on the Ceiling, one of the most energetic songs in his repertoire. Visibly embarrassed, Lionel Richie sat down on stage several times before explaining to the audience that he felt dizzy. He joked, essentially saying that when you're feeling lightheaded, you should sit down. He also admitted that it was the first time he had performed the song sitting down.
One last song before the end
Despite his condition, Lionel Richie attempted to continue the concert. He sat down at the piano and performed Three Times a Lady He sat down. Shortly after, he announced an unexpected break and left the stage. His musicians remained in place for several minutes before also leaving the stage while recorded music played in the hall.
40-minute wait, then cancellation
The audience waited approximately forty minutes for a clear answer. Around 22:50 p.m., saxophonist Dino Soldo took to the stage to announce that Lionel Richie would not be able to return to finish the concert. The show was therefore stopped after about 55 minutes of Richie's performance, although his set was scheduled to last approximately 90 minutes.
No official diagnosis
No detailed medical diagnosis has been made public. Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris indicated that Lionel Richie showed no signs of illness before the concert and suggested possible dehydration. Representatives for the singer had not released a full medical update at the time of the last available information.
Two concerts already postponed
Following this incident, the next two tour dates were postponed: the concert scheduled for Friday, June 26 in Chicago and the one on Saturday, June 27 in Columbus, Ohio. The decision was made on medical advice to allow Lionel Richie to rest and fully recover. The tour is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, June 30 in Pittsburgh, with Earth, Wind & Fire.
A serious warning for a highly anticipated tour
This cancellation comes on the very first night of a major North American tour for Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire. The singer is still scheduled to perform in several major cities this summer, with the tour ending in Austin on August 14. So far, only the Chicago and Columbus dates have been postponed, and the new dates have yet to be announced.
