Lionel Richie was reportedly rushed to the hospital after cutting a concert in Minnesota short following a dizzy spell onstage.
The 77-year-old music legend was performing Wednesday in St. Paul when he was forced to end the concert shortly after intermission.
TMZ has now reported that the singer was transported to the hospital after leaving the stage. The outlet said that the hospital trip was a precautionary measure.
The Independent has contacted Richie’s representative for comment.
In clips shared by fans on social media, Richie was performing “Dancing on the Ceiling” when he signaled to someone on stage that he was going to finish the performance sitting down.
Following the song, Richie told the audience, “Now, what I have learned about my years of being in the business: when you are feeling dizzy, sit your ass down. And when you are feeling strange about yourself, sit your ass down.
“Now I want you to know that that is the first time in the history of ‘Dancing on the Ceiling’ I’ve done it sitting down,” he continued to audience laughter and cheers. “That’s a bad sign! That’s a bad sign, y’all.”
His saxophonist, Dino Soldo, later came out on stage to inform the crowd that “unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well.”
“He won’t be able to continue with the show,” Soldo said. “Thank you for your patience and your understanding. It’s just been amazing. Safe travels home, everyone. Thank you so much.”
Wednesday night’s performance in St. Paul was Richie’s opening night show of his Sing a Song All Night Long tour with Earth, Wind & Fire.
The “All Night Long” singer is next scheduled to stop Friday in Chicago. So far, there have been no cancellation announcements.
Richie’s health scare has worried fans, who have shared words of support on TikTok.
“Pray for Lionel Richie,” one person wrote over the clip of his Minnesota performance. “You are right Lionel Richie go get some rest. We can’t have nothing happened to you now,” a second commented.
“I hope he is OK,” a third added, while a fourth observed: “He was smart, he knew something was wrong.”
“Take care of yourself Lionel, you’re one of the last LEGENDS left,” another declared.
Richie, a four-time Grammy winner, has previously opened up about his past health issues, including a severe vocal cord injury in the Nineties that required four separate surgeries over four years.
Speaking to People in 2022, he described the scary period as the closest “you ever would’ve come to a nervous breakdown.”
“You don’t want anybody fooling around down there,” Richie said of the procedures. “This is your identity. I never really thought that it would end.”
He was eventually diagnosed with diet-induced acid reflux and has since recovered.
Richie first rose to fame in the Seventies as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of the Motown group Commodores. In 1982, he released his debut solo album, which featured the chart-topping lead single “Truly.” That same year, he officially left his band to pursue a solo career.
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