Lionel Richie was hospitalized over the weekend after a performance in St. Louis, marking the latest health scare for the 77-year-old singer during a summer already punctuated by medical issues.
According to TMZ, which first reported the news, Richie checked himself into the intensive care unit after Saturday’s show. During his final song, “All Night Long,” he requested a chair, a detail that raised immediate concerns among those in attendance.
Sources told TMZ that Richie checked in “out of an abundance of caution” and that doctors were evaluating him for possible dehydration. One source said the singer is hoping to be discharged as early as Tuesday.
As of Monday night, representatives for Richie had not issued a public statement regarding his condition.
A Summer of Health Struggles
The hospitalization follows a series of health-related incidents for the Grammy-winning artist. In June, Richie cut short a show in Saint Paul, Minnesota, after reportedly feeling dizzy.
“When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your ass down,” he told the audience at the time, before sitting at a piano to perform “Three Times a Lady,” according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Following that episode, Richie postponed his next two shows to recover. When he returned to the stage later that month, he addressed his health directly with fans.
“Had you worried there for a minute, huh?” he joked, adding, “You have no idea what I have been through in the last 24 hours, listening to my friends tell me their advice on what I should be doing.”
On July 4, Richie took to social media to thank fans for their concern, writing: “Thank you for every message, every kind word, and for all your love. I’m doing well, and I’m grateful for all of you. Pittsburgh and Detroit were an absolute joy. The energy, the dancing, the faces in the crowd … we made real memories together. See you in Toronto … let’s party all night long!”
Tour and Next Steps
Richie is currently on the road with Earth, Wind & Fire for the “Sing a Song All Night Long” tour. His next scheduled performance is set for September 26 in San Francisco.
The hospitalization raises questions about whether that show, and others, will proceed as planned, though no official announcement about cancellations or postponements has been made.
A Legendary Career
Richie first rose to fame as the lead singer and songwriter of the Commodores before launching a massively successful solo career in the 1980s with hits like “All Night Long” and “Hello.” He has won multiple Grammys, an Oscar, and later became a beloved judge on American Idol, cementing his status as a music icon.
Fans and colleagues alike are now watching closely for updates on his condition, hoping for a speedy recovery from a performer who has long been a fixture of pop and soul music.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/lionel-richie-hospitalized-after-asking-for-chair-during-performance