Lionel Richie has expressed gratitude to his fans for their support after returning to the stage following a brief illness that caused him to postpone several concerts. The 77-year-old singer took to Instagram on Saturday night to share his appreciation.
"Thank you for every message, every kind word, and for all your love. I'm doing well, and I'm grateful for all of you," Richie wrote. He added, "Pittsburgh and Detroit were an absolute joy. The energy, the dancing, the faces in the crowd… we made real memories together. See you in Toronto… let's party all night long!"
Postponed Shows Due to Illness
Late last month, Richie was forced to postpone two shows on his Sing A Song All Night Long Tour in Illinois and Ohio after cutting short the opening night of the tour due to illness. On June 24, he ended a concert early in St. Paul, Minnesota, after feeling unwell. According to US media reports, he was singing "Dancing On The Ceiling" when he had to sit down and eventually leave the stage.
A joint statement from Live Nation Chicago and the United Centre's official Instagram accounts on June 25 confirmed the postponements. It read: "Under advisement by doctors to rest and return to full health, Lionel Richie has postponed his show 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 to performing for his fans." The statement also apologised for any inconvenience and noted that rescheduled dates would be announced soon.
Richie has not publicly disclosed further details about his illness or treatment.
Upcoming UK Performance
The singer is scheduled to perform in the UK next month at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk on August 20. Richie began his career as a member of the funk pop band The Commodores and has since achieved eight UK top 10 singles as a solo artist, including the number one hit "Hello." He has also scored three UK number one albums. His other well-known songs include "All Night Long (All Night)," "Dancing On The Ceiling," and "My Destiny," while with The Commodores he featured on hits like "Easy" and "Three Times A Lady."
