Lionel Richie cut short the first show of his tour with Earth, Wind & Fire on Wednesday after repeatedly sitting down on stage and acknowledging that he was "feeling dizzy." The 77-year-old Grammy winner eventually walked off stage, leaving the crowd at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, without a full performance.
Richie Jokes About Feeling Dizzy
In footage shared on social media, Richie can be seen sitting down while performing his multiplatinum 1986 hit "Dancing on the Ceiling." He stood back up, walked a few steps, and sat down again. After getting up, he admitted to feeling dizzy and joked to the crowd: "Now, what I have learned about my years of being in the business, when you are feeling dizzy, sit your ass down. And when you are feeling strange about yourself … sit your ass down!" The line drew widespread laughter from the audience.
Performance Cut Short
Richie then moved to the piano to perform "Three Times a Lady," one of his best-known songs, but called for an intermission and walked off stage. His band reportedly waited on stage for 15 minutes before also leaving. About 40 minutes later, saxophonist Dino Soldo addressed the crowd: "Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well. He won’t be able to continue with the show, and additional information will be available. Thank you for your patience and your understanding. It’s been amazing." He added, "Safe travels back home, everyone. Thank you so much."
Upcoming Shows
The four-time Grammy winner is scheduled to return to the stage on Friday at the United Center in Chicago as part of the "Sing A Song All Night Long Tour," which includes two dozen more shows. Representatives for Richie did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Hours before Wednesday's performance, Richie posted behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram of his rehearsal and soundcheck, writing: "Opening night. Rehearsals. Sound check. Showtime tonight. Saint Paul, you’re up!!!"
