Lionel Richie, 77, has sparked new health fears after cutting his first concert short when he fell ill mid-performance. The singer was performing at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, when he announced an unusual 40-minute break. Following this, he ended the show.
It has now been reported that he was taken by ambulance to hospital after the performance as a precautionary measure, and his family is concerned about the star.
Family and Bandmates Express Concern
Speaking to the Daily Mail, a source claimed: "Family, friends, and even his bandmates are definitely concerned about Lionel's health, but nobody is about to tell him to slow down. They all want him better and to do what he loves to do."
The source continued: "The Lionel we see on tour and on American Idol is the same Lionel we have known for decades – he's always moving, always working, and always looking ahead to the next show. And with that, depending on what doctors tell him, his mindset is already focused on getting back out on the road as quickly as possible because that's simply who he is."
They added that his focus was entirely on performing for his fans and he didn't feel the episode was serious. "He's still waiting for a few more answers on what he is dealing with, but he feels that it could be just a bit of an episode over something super serious," the source alleged.
Details of the Incident
TMZ reported that paramedics met the hitmaker backstage, and he was taken by ambulance to a hospital soon after the concert. It was added that this move was just a precautionary measure, but Richie's current health status remains unknown, and his team has yet to speak out on the star's health.
The St. Paul show was just the start point of his joint Sing A Song All Night Long tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. After performing Three Times A Lady from the piano, he said there would be an intermission and left the stage. His band left the stage minutes later, and one later returned to say that Richie could not come back as he was feeling ill.
Saxophonist Dino Soldo, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune, said: "Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well. He won’t be able to continue. Additional information will be available."
Fan Reactions and Social Media
Fans who attended the show took to social media with their concerns for Richie's health. Videos they shared of him performing showed him having to sit down multiple times during a rendition of Dancing On The Ceiling. He reportedly told audiences this was because he was feeling "dizzy".
In one video on X, Richie could be seen singing as he walked around the stage before becoming unsteady and abruptly stopping to sit on the edge of a large platform. He continued to sing whilst sat, but was soon on his feet again. However, it wasn't long before he needed to sing while sitting again.
Upcoming Tour Schedule
At present, the tour is set to take place across 26 cities throughout the summer, and their next performance is set to be at the United Center in Chicago on 26 June. The Mirror has reached out to Lionel Richie's representatives for comment.
