Lionel Richie is taking time off the road after undergoing a heart procedure, his representative confirmed this week.
The “Hello” singer, 75, was admitted to hospital this week for treatment of atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm originating in the heart’s upper chambers. His spokesperson said in a statement that the procedure went smoothly and the veteran hitmaker is recovering well.
“Lionel underwent a common procedure for Atrial fibrillation (AFib),” the representative said. “The doctor said everything went perfectly. Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon.”
The health scare marks the third time this year Richie has required medical attention while on tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. The joint arena trek has faced repeated interruptions as the “Dancing on the Ceiling” singer battled mounting physical challenges on stage.
On Aug. 31, Richie was admitted to an intensive care unit immediately after wrapping a concert in St. Louis. Audience members had noticed something amiss during the show when the singer requested a chair for the closing performance of his 1983 classic “All Night Long.” He underwent cardiac-related testing in the days that followed.
That incident came two months after a June 24 show at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, where Richie suffered a bout of dizziness mid-performance. He completed the set seated, making light of the moment to the concerned crowd.
“Now, I want you to know, that’s the first time in the history of ‘Dancing on the Ceiling’ I’ve done it sitting down. That’s a bad sign, y’all,” he told fans at the time.
He bounced back quickly, returning to the stage less than a week later in Pittsburgh on June 30. He addressed the previous scare directly with that audience, teasing: “I had you worried there for a minute, huh?”
The status of Richie’s remaining three scheduled dates on the Earth, Wind & Fire tour remains unconfirmed. The itinerary includes planned stops at San Francisco’s Chase Center, Chicago’s United Center, and Columbus’s Schottenstein Center, though no announcements have been made regarding whether these shows will proceed as planned or be rescheduled during his recovery period.
Standard treatments for AFib include electrical or chemical cardioversion to restore normal heart rhythm, or catheter ablation, a minimally invasive procedure where doctors use heat, cold, or electrical pulses to scar small areas of heart tissue and block erratic signals. The exact nature of Richie’s procedure has not been publicly specified.
The representative emphasized that the singer is in positive spirits as he recuperates, though gave no specific timeline for his return beyond the assurance that he “will be back on stage soon.”
Richie continues to serve as a judge on “American Idol,” a role he has held since 2018 alongside Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.