Lionel Richie had to cut short the opening night of his latest tour after telling the audience he was feeling unwell during the performance.
The 77-year-old was launching the first U.S. date of his Sing a Song All Night Long Tour with Earth, Wind & Fire on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, but the show did not continue as planned.
While performing Dancing on the Ceiling, Richie was seen lowering himself onto the stairs onstage in footage circulating on social media.
BREAKING: Lionel Ritchie concert in St Paul at Grand Casino Arena canceled mid-show. Ritchie sat down on stage during “Dancing on the Ceiling”, said he felt dizzy. Performed one more song at piano, “Three Times a Lady”, then announced unplanned intermission. Did not return. pic.twitter.com/RNalkYHnmG
— Patrick Kessler (@PatKessler) June 25, 2026
He briefly stood back up, but soon sat down again at the Grand Casino Arena.
“When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your ass down,” he told the crowd, according to the The Minnesota Star Tribune.
People at the venue later said on X that Richie went on to perform Three Times a Lady from the piano before an unexpected intermission was announced. He did not return to the stage after that.
Reports say his five band members remained in place for around 15 minutes before also leaving.
Roughly 40 minutes later, saxophonist Dino Soldo informed the audience that Richie was unable to carry on because he was feeling unwell.
Attendees were then told that more information would follow.
Before the concert, Richie had shared his excitement about the opening show on Instagram. Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris also reportedly said there had been no obvious signs of a problem before Richie went on stage.
“He’s a little dehydrated,” the drummer told The Minnesota Star Tribune., although he was unaware of the star’s current health situation.
The Hello singer is said to have left the stage after about 55 minutes of what had been scheduled as a 90-minute set.
Richie’s next scheduled stop is in Chicago on Friday, June 26, though there has been no official confirmation yet on whether that performance will go ahead. The tour listing currently still shows that Chicago date, along with the rest of the 26-city run.
Fans have since filled the comments on his most recent Instagram post, which showed him during soundcheck for the opening night, with supportive messages.
One fan wrote:
“Hope you’re feeling better after your intermission you took,”
“We’re praying out here in the audience. You’re doing great! Stay hydrated.”
Another added:
“Hope you are feeling better. Take care of yourself! We love you and enjoyed every minute of the show tonight. Your fans will always support you!”
At the moment, Richie remains scheduled to perform in 26 cities over the course of the summer.