American Music Icon Lionel Richie Hospitalised Again

American music legend, Lionel Richie, has been hospitalised for the third time since June after experiencing heart-related problems during his ongoing tour.

The 77-year-old singer has cancelled his next three scheduled concerts with Earth, Wind & Fire as he takes time away from performing to recover from a medical procedure for atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib.

Richie’s representative told The Independent on Tuesday that the singer underwent a procedure to treat the condition and was 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.

The affected performances were scheduled to take place in San Francisco, Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, with the Columbus concert originally set for October 2.

Heart condition prompts latest break

AFib is a condition in which the heart beats irregularly and is the most common form of irregular heart rhythm. Symptoms can include fatigue, dizziness, heart palpitations and shortness of breath.

Although the condition is not generally considered life-threatening on its own, it can lead to other health complications, making medical monitoring important.

Richie’s latest hospitalisation comes after two previous health-related incidents during his current tour.

In August, the singer spent three days in hospital after experiencing difficulties during his August 29 performance in St Louis, Missouri.

Richie became visibly winded during the concert and was seen asking for a chair while performing “All Night Long”, the final song of his set.

He subsequently left the performance and was taken to hospital, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit.

Earlier medical episode

The singer’s first hospital visit during the tour occurred on June 24 during the opening show in St Paul, Minnesota.

Richie experienced a dizzy spell while performing “Dancing on the Ceiling”. He acknowledged the problem while on stage and decided to perform part of the song while seated.

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He joked with the audience about sitting down whenever he felt dizzy before continuing to perform at the piano.

The episode eventually led to an unscheduled break from the performance. He later postponed two tour dates after consulting a doctor.

Richie subsequently reassured his fans in a July 4 Instagram post, thanking them for their messages and support and saying he was recovering well.

Despite the health setbacks, the veteran singer had continued his tour before the latest procedure prompted another temporary break from the stage.

Career and upcoming performances

Richie first rose to prominence as a member of The Commodores before establishing a highly successful solo career.

He became one of the most recognisable American singers of his generation, with songs including “All Night Long”, “Hello” and “Dancing on the Ceiling” becoming enduring hits.

His current tour is scheduled to conclude on October 2, although the latest cancellations have altered the final stretch of his performances.

Following the tour, Richie is expected to begin his King of Hearts residency in Las Vegas on October 14.

The residency is scheduled to continue through mid-November, with the singer expected to return to the stage after taking time to recover from his latest medical procedure.