Music legend Lionel Richie has officially pushed back two stops on his highly anticipated tour after falling ill and abruptly stopping his opening-night show.
The health scare hit while the 77-year-old singer was co-headlining the 2026 leg of the “Sing a Song All Night Long” tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. Richie had a major dizzy spell less than an hour into his set on the opening night of the tour, at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota.
An Unexpected Intermission in St. Paul
The legendary pop star took the unexpected step of sitting down on a platform on stage while performing his 1986 hit “Dancing on the Ceiling.” In his usual humor, given the circumstances, Richie told the crowd, “When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your ass down,” and said it was the first time he’d ever played that particular upbeat song while sitting.
Seated at his grand piano, Richie was able to make it through one more song, the classic Commodores ballad “Three Times a Lady.” But immediately after the song, he announced a surprise intermission and exited the stage.
The backing band remained on stage for 15 minutes or so before following him off. After a tense 40-minute delay, Richie’s longtime sax man, Dino Soldo, came back on stage to give the unfortunate news to the remaining crowd. “Unfortunately, Lionel is under the weather,” Soldo announced. “He won’t be able to go on. More information will be forthcoming.” Industry sources said later that Richie had paramedics waiting for him backstage, and he was taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution.
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After the scare, tour management and venue officials were quick to ensure the singer had enough time to recover. The United Center in Chicago, on behalf of the tour, released an official statement saying the next two scheduled stops have been officially sidelined under strict medical orders. Lionel Richie has postponed his next two shows on Friday, June 26, in Chicago, IL, and Saturday, June 27, in Columbus, OH. “Due to doctor’s orders to rest and return to full health,” the venue’s statement read. He and Earth, Wind & Fire will perform on Tuesday, June 30, in Pittsburgh, PA. “Lionel is devastated to have to postpone these two shows and can’t wait to be back performing for his fans.”
Organizers said they would be announcing replacement dates for the Chicago and Columbus shows in the near future, and all original tickets would be honored.
Next steps
Richie has not yet spoken publicly about the specific nature of his illness on his social media channels, but thousands of fans have already taken to social media to voice their support for the singer’s long-term health over the concert schedule.
If his recovery continues as directed by his medical team, the 26-city North American trek is expected to resume full operations at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The massive summer arena tour is booked all the way through mid-August, with the final show set for the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
Aman Rawat covers entertainment stories across movies, television, streaming platforms, music, celebrities, and pop culture. His reporting keeps readers updated on what’s trending, what’s releasing, and what’s making headlines in the entertainment world.