Lionel Richie has postponed his next two performances after being rushed to hospital following an on-stage health scare. The 77-year-old singer was performing at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Wednesday night when he began swaying uncontrollably and complained of dizziness.
On-Stage Incident and Hospitalization
Audience members reported that Richie told the crowd he felt 'dizzy' and 'strange' during the show. In a video circulating on social media, he is heard saying: 'Now, what I have learned about my years of being in the business, when you are feeling dizzy, sit your a** down. And when you are feeling strange about yourself, sit your a** down.' The show was stopped approximately one hour into the performance. Saxophonist Dino Soldo later returned to the stage to announce that Richie was not feeling well and would not be able to continue. TMZ revealed that paramedics met him backstage and he was taken to hospital as a 'precautionary measure'.
Official Statement and Postponement
On Thursday, the United Center released a statement on social media: 'Under advisement by doctors to rest and return to full health, Lionel Richie has postponed his next two shows on Friday, June 26 in Chicago, IL and Saturday, June 27 in Columbus, OH. He and Earth, Wind & Fire will return to the stage on Tuesday, June 30 in Pittsburgh, PA. Lionel is heartbroken to postpone these two shows and cannot wait to be back performing for his fans. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes fans who have tickets for these two shows. Rescheduled dates will be announced soon.'
Fan Reactions and Concerns
Fans who attended the show expressed concern on social media. One user named Greg wrote: 'Hey now, our older, legendary performers are getting older, unfortunately. Sounds like he was just dehydrated, and the rider contract should always include 200 bottles of water.' Another fan, Sharon, added: 'I saw him last year when he was touring with Earth Wind and Fire. Both did amazing concerts. Hopefully he’s going to be okay.' A clip posted online shows Richie appearing unsteady as he walked across the stage while singing 'Dancing on the Ceiling'. Despite feeling unwell, he continued to sing while seated, but after standing up again, he sat down less than 30 seconds later while still performing.
