Lionel Richie Hospitalised Again as Heart Problem Disrupts Tour
American singer Lionel Richie has been hospitalised for the third time since June after experiencing heart problems during his ongoing tour.
The 77-year-old singer has cancelled his next three concerts with Earth, Wind & Fire to allow him time to recover.
The affected shows were scheduled for Saturday in San Francisco, September 30 in Chicago and October 2 in Columbus, Ohio, according to TMZ.
Richie’s representative told The Independent that the singer underwent a procedure for atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib, and is recovering well.
“Lionel underwent a common procedure for Atrial fibrillation (AFib). The doctor said everything went perfectly. Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon,” the representative said.
AFib is the most common form of irregular heart rhythm. Although the condition is not generally considered life-threatening on its own, it can lead to other health complications. Symptoms may include fatigue, dizziness, heart palpitations and shortness of breath.
Richie’s latest hospitalisation comes after two previous health-related incidents during his current tour.
In August, the “All Night Long” singer spent three days in hospital after struggling to complete his August 29 performance in St. Louis, Missouri.
Richie appeared visibly winded during the concert and asked for a chair while performing “All Night Long”, his final song of the night. He subsequently left the performance and was taken to hospital, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit.
His first medical episode occurred on June 24 during the opening show of his tour in St. Paul, Minnesota, after he experienced a dizzy spell.
While performing “Dancing on the Ceiling”, Richie acknowledged that he had never performed the song while seated before making light of the situation.
“Now, what I have learned about my years of being in the business: when you are feeling dizzy, sit your ass down,” he joked.
Richie later moved to the piano and performed another song before taking an unscheduled break, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Following the incident, he postponed two tour dates after consulting a doctor.
The singer later reassured fans in a July 4 Instagram post, thanking them for their messages and support.
“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,” he wrote.
Richie first rose to fame as a member of the Commodores before establishing a successful solo career.
His current tour is scheduled to end on October 2, after which he is expected to begin his “King of Hearts” residency in Las Vegas on October 14. The residency is scheduled to run through mid-November.
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