Lionel Richie, 77, was forced to cut short his opening concert in St. Paul, Minnesota, after falling ill mid-performance. The Good Morning Britain entertainment correspondent Richard Arnold delivered a heartfelt message to the singer during the live broadcast on Thursday, June 25.
GMB Presenters React to Lionel Richie's Health Scare
During the ITV breakfast programme, hosts Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway were joined by entertainment reporter Richard Arnold. Before his segment, Madeley noted: "Richard's here with a bit of worrying news." Arnold then reported that Richie had to abandon his concert at the Grand Casino Arena after becoming unwell.
According to Arnold, the singer was performing with Earth, Wind & Fire when he announced an unexpected 40-minute intermission. After 30 minutes, a band member returned to the stage and informed the audience that Richie would not be returning due to illness. "According to fans Lionel felt dizzy whilst singing 'Dancing on the Ceiling' and actually sat down on the stage," Arnold said.
Well Wishes for a Speedy Recovery
Arnold expressed his hopes for Richie's recovery: "Obviously, we wish Lionel a speedy recovery. It's the start of a 26-day tour." He added, "He's 77 years old and he frankly looks about 15 to 20 years younger. Having met him many times, he's a very spirited individual. So hopefully he'll be back on the road soon and feeling the heat of the light."
During the concert, Richie had performed "Three Times a Lady" from the piano before announcing the interval and leaving the stage. Saxophonist Dino Soldo later told the audience: "Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well. He won't be able to continue. Additional information will be available," according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
