Fears for Lionel Richie's health have been sparked after the 77-year-old singer cut short a concert in St. Paul, Minnesota, on 25 June 2026, following a sudden illness mid-performance. Richie, performing the first show of his joint Sing A Song All Night Long tour with Earth, Wind & Fire at the Grand Casino Arena, announced an unusual 40-minute intermission and left the stage after singing 'Three Times A Lady' from the piano.
Band Confirms Illness
Minutes after Richie left, his band also departed. Saxophonist Dino Soldo later returned to inform the audience that Richie could not continue due to feeling ill. According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Soldo stated: "Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well. He won’t be able to continue. Additional information will be available."
Videos shared by fans on social media showed Richie sitting down multiple times during a rendition of 'Dancing On The Ceiling', telling the crowd he felt "dizzy". In one clip, he walked unsteadily before abruptly sitting on the edge of a large platform, continuing to sing while seated. He briefly stood but soon needed to sit again.
Fan Reactions and Tour Impact
A fan told the Star Tribune that Richie said "he has been in this business long enough" and learned that "if you feel dizzy, you sit down." Some audience members began leaving as soon as the band exited, about 15 minutes after Richie left. One fan quoted by the Star Tribune said: "I'm super bummed. This was my first time [seeing Richie] and I'm old."
The St. Paul show was the launch of the 26-city summer tour, with the next performance scheduled at the United Center in Chicago on 26 June. The Mirror has contacted Richie's representatives for comment.
