R&B music legend, Lionel Richie, was forced to end his concert early after falling ill during the opening night of his tour with American R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.
The 77-year-old singer had been performing for nearly an hour at Grand Casino Arena on Wednesday, June 24, when he told the audience he was feeling dizzy.
During a performance of his hit song “Dancing on the Ceiling,” Richie sat down on stage and joked, “When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your ass down.”
He later moved to the piano to perform “Three Times a Lady” before announcing an unscheduled intermission and leaving the stage.
Richie’s band continued playing for about 15 minutes before also exiting. Around 40 minutes later, saxophonist Dino Soldo informed the audience that the singer was not well enough to continue the show.
Videos shared on social media showed Richie remaining seated for parts of the performance before the concert was called off.
The show marked the opening night of Richie’s 26-date North American tour with Earth, Wind & Fire.
The tour is scheduled to continue with stops in major cities including New York and Los Angeles before concluding in Austin, Texas, on August 14.
According to reports, Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris said Richie had not shown any signs of illness before taking the stage.
Neither Richie nor his representatives have provided an official update on his condition. It is also unclear whether the St. Paul show will be rescheduled.
Just days before the tour began, Richie thanked his band and crew in an Instagram Stories post for helping prepare for the run of shows, saying he was grateful for their hard work and dedication behind the scenes.