Lionel Richie Hospitalized After Falling Ill During Concert Opening

Lionel Richie was transported to a hospital Wednesday night after falling ill during the opening performance of his joint tour with Earth, Wind & Fire at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota. The 77-year-old singer announced an unexpected intermission roughly 55 minutes into the show, explaining to the audience that he was experiencing dizziness. During his performance of "Dancing on the Ceiling," a high-energy song not typically performed seated, Richie sat down on a stage platform multiple times while continuing to sing, later quipping to the crowd, "When you're feeling dizzy, sit your ass down." After performing "Three Times a Lady" at the piano, he called for an intermission and left the stage.

Richie's band remained onstage for approximately 15 minutes before also exiting. About 40 minutes later, saxophonist Dino Soldo returned to inform the audience that Richie was unwell and unable to continue the performance. According to reports, paramedics met the singer backstage and transported him by ambulance to a hospital as a precautionary measure. His current medical condition has not been disclosed. Earth, Wind & Fire's drummer, John Paris, noted that Richie had shown no signs of illness before the show began.

The 26-date tour is scheduled to continue through August 14, with upcoming stops at major venues including Chicago, New York City's Madison Square Garden, Los Angeles' Intuit Dome, and Austin's Moody Center. Prior to the concert, Richie had shared his appreciation on Instagram Stories for his band and crew's preparation for the tour. Social media reactions from concert attendees expressed concern for the legendary performer, with some speculating that dehydration may have contributed to his condition.