Lionel Richie is taking another unexpected break from performing after a new heart-related health issue sent the 77-year-old music legend back for medical treatment, forcing the cancellation of his next three concerts.
Richie has been undergoing treatment for atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib, a condition involving an irregular heart rhythm. His representative confirmed this week that the singer underwent a procedure to treat the condition.
Fortunately, the latest update from his team is reassuring. Richie’s representative said the procedure went perfectly and that the singer is doing great. He will now take some time away from performing to recover before returning to the stage.
Reports indicate that Richie underwent an ablation, a minimally invasive procedure commonly used to treat certain abnormal heart rhythms. The procedure was performed as doctors addressed the AFib that has recently affected the singer.
As a result, three upcoming dates from Richie’s tour with Earth, Wind & Fire have been canceled. Those concerts were scheduled for September 26 in San Francisco, September 30 in Chicago and October 2 in Columbus, Ohio.
The development is especially concerning to fans because it follows other health problems Richie has experienced during the past few months. In June, he became dizzy while performing in St. Paul, Minnesota, and ended the concert early before receiving medical attention.
Richie recovered and returned to the stage only days later, but another worrying incident occurred after his August 29 concert in St. Louis. Toward the end of that performance, he needed to sit while finishing “All Night Long” and later checked himself into a hospital for testing.
He spent several days under medical care before returning home on September 2. At the time, reports initially mentioned possible dehydration, while further testing was also being conducted for cardiac-related concerns.
There appeared to be encouraging news just days ago when Richie was photographed out in Beverly Hills with longtime partner Lisa Parigi. He smiled for photographers and gave a thumbs-up, marking his first widely reported public outing following the earlier hospitalization.
Now, however, his touring schedule is being paused again while he recovers from the AFib procedure. The cancellation of three concerts means fans who had been waiting for the rescheduled dates in San Francisco, Chicago and Columbus will once again have to miss seeing Richie perform.
Despite the latest setback, there is currently encouraging news about his recovery. His representative has emphasized that the procedure was successful and that Richie intends to return to performing after taking the necessary time to rest.
For fans who have watched Richie continue performing through several difficult moments this year, the latest news understandably brings concern—but the most important update right now is positive: his procedure was successful, he is reportedly doing well, and his team says he plans to be back onstage soon.
