Lionel Richie, the 77-year-old Grammy-winning singer, was hospitalized this week for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AFib), his representative confirmed on Tuesday. The procedure followed a prior health-related pause to his Sing a Song All Night Long tour with Earth, Wind & Fire.
The All Night Long hitmaker canceled three upcoming performances—scheduled for San Francisco on September 28, Chicago on September 30, and Columbus, Ohio, on October 2—due to the medical procedure. His Las Vegas residency at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas is set to begin as planned on October 14, according to his representative.
Richie’s hospitalization marks the third time in months he has faced health-related disruptions to the tour. His first pause occurred in mid-summer after he reported feeling dizzy mid-performance, leading to the cancellation of two shows in Chicago and Columbus. Earth, Wind & Fire also canceled a concert in early August, citing a medical emergency involving a band member.
A representative for Richie stated that the procedure went perfectly, and the singer is doing great but will take time off before returning to the stage. The representative did not specify the duration of his recovery period.
The Sing a Song All Night Long tour began in mid-June, but its schedule has been stop-and-go due to health issues affecting multiple performers. TMZ first reported Richie’s latest health scare, which followed his performance at St. Louis’ Muny earlier this week. His representative did not respond to requests for additional comment beyond the initial statement.