Lionel Richie sparked concern among fans when he suffered a "dizzy" spell on the opening night of his tour, causing him to cut the concert short.
The 77-year-old kicked off his Sing A Song All Night Long Tour with Earth, Wind & Fire at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Wednesday, June 24, but after falling ill mid-performance, he has had to pause his return to the stage.
Lionel was scheduled to perform in Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, this weekend, but has been forced to postpone the dates due to his health.
Issuing a statement on behalf of a "heartbroken" Lionel, Live Nation Chicago revealed that he will resume his tour in Pittsburgh next week.
"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," the statement began.
"He and Earth, Wind & Fire will return to the stage on Tuesday, June 30 in Pittsburgh, PA."
It added: "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."
© Getty ImagesLionel revealed to the crowd on Wednesday that he was unwell after he performed his hit "Dancing on the Ceiling" while sitting on a step.
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, he later told the audience: "When you're feeling dizzy, sit your ass down."
He then sang "Three Times a Lady" while sitting at a grand piano, before announcing an unforeseen "intermission" just over halfway through his set.
© Getty ImagesLionel left the stage, followed 15 minutes later by his band, and 25 minutes after that, saxophonist Dino Soldo appeared onstage to inform the audience that Lionel would not be able to continue the show due to illness.
"Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well," he said. "He won't be able to continue. Additional information will be available."
Following the concert, fans flocked to social media to react to the news. Videos from the performance appeared online, showing the singer sitting down several times during "Dancing on the Ceiling."
© Getty ImagesAnnounced in January, the latest run of the Sing a Song All Night Long Tour features 26 dates, kicking off with Wednesday's concert in Minnesota.
Lionel and Earth, Wind & Fire are set to perform in major cities, including New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, before wrapping up the tour in Austin, Texas, on August 14. The Sing a Song All Night Long Tour kick-started in 2023, followed by an additional tour in 2024.
© GC Images"Thank you to everyone in my band and crew for all the hard work, dedication, and long hours getting us ready for this tour," penned the singer in an Instagram Story ahead of the show.
"It takes an incredible team behind the scenes to make it all happen, and I’m grateful for each and every one of you. Saint Paul, here we come."
