Lionel Richie was forced to end a concert early on Wednesday night after feeling dizzy on stage at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota. The 77-year-old singer, who had just launched his Sing a Song All Night Long Tour with Earth, Wind & Fire earlier this week, sat down while performing his 1980s hit "Dancing on the Ceiling."
Richie Sits Down Mid-Performance
In fan-shot video, Richie addressed the crowd of about 10,000 fans roughly 55 minutes into the show. "What I have learned (after) my years of being in the business. When you're feeling dizzy, sit your ass down," he said, according to a video posted on Instagram. "Now, I want you to know that's the first time in the history of 'Dancing on the Ceiling' I've done it sitting down. That's a bad sign, that's a bad sign, y'all."
Richie remained seated for his next song, "Three Times a Lady," before announcing an "intermission." According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, members of Richie's band stayed on stage for approximately 15 minutes before exiting without addressing the audience.
Show Cancelled After 40-Minute Break
About 40 minutes after Richie requested a break, his saxophonist Dino Soldo returned to the stage and informed fans the show was over. "Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well," Soldo said. "He won't be able to continue. Additional information will be available."
Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris told the Star Tribune that there had been no signs of illness before Richie took the stage. "He's a little dehydrated," Paris said.
Richie's Health Concerns During Performance
The Star Tribune reported that Richie's voice "was not as smooth as it had been" during previous performances in Minnesota. Dressed in leather pants and jacket, the Grammy winner was also "sweating noticeably" and was seen "frequently toweling his face."
One fan exiting the venue told the newspaper she was "super bummed" because it was her first time seeing Richie perform live. Another concertgoer expressed gratitude for the abbreviated show: "I'm grateful for what he was able to do at age 77. I wasn't surprised he had to sit. Rod Stewart did that recently and he did that with oxygen."
Social Media Reaction
On social media, fans called Richie's performance heartbreaking. "This is pure torture watching all the great musicians we grew up with age. Hats off to them still performing doing what they love," one person commented on a video that had garnered more than 2 million views. "One of the great ones. Time catches up with all of us- wishing him well and quick return with a bit easier concert program," another added.
Some attendees noted something was off from the start. "Something felt off from the minute he hit the stage. The timing, the sound, the singing … Told us to wait while he took an unscheduled intermission. 45 minutes later, the concert was ended," one attendee wrote.
Others compared Richie's situation to Rod Stewart, who recently used an oxygen tank mid-concert in Utah. "Rod Stewart needing oxygen on stage, now this. Time to hang it up y'all," one person remarked.
Tour Schedule and Richie's Commitment to Performing
Richie's next concert is scheduled for Friday night in Chicago. The tour is set to hit the RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto on July 4. Despite the setback, Richie has not addressed the incident publicly but has previously stated his commitment to performing. In a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, he said, "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."
