Singer Lionel Richie brought his Minnesota tour opener to a halt after feeling unwell on stage. The Grammy winner had been performing in St. Paul as part of his Sing a Song All Night Long Tour with Earth, Wind & Fire when the concert took a turn. According to Today, Richie told the audience he was dealing with dizziness before stepping back from the performance. The stop came just over halfway through his set, leaving fans waiting as the stage went quiet and the night ended earlier than planned.
Lionel Richie Tells Crowd He Felt Dizzy
Richie pushed through part of the set before addressing the audience directly. During "Dancing on the Ceiling," he performed while seated on a step onstage rather than moving around as usual. "When you're feeling dizzy, sit your ass down," said Lionel Richie according to Today. He then shifted to the piano and continued with "Three Times a Lady" while seated. The moment signaled that something was off, even as he kept singing and tried to carry on through the opening night performance.
St. Paul Show Ends After Mid-Set Intermission
Not long after, Richie told the crowd there would be an intermission. He did not return. His band stayed on for a short stretch before also leaving the stage, and the pause stretched on without an update. Eventually, saxophonist Dino Soldo came out to explain the situation to the audience. "Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well. He won't be able to continue," said Dino Soldo according to Today. That announcement confirmed the concert was over after roughly 55 minutes onstage for the veteran performer.
Earth, Wind & Fire Tour Continues With Next Dates Set
The concert was the first stop on Richie’s latest run with Earth, Wind & Fire, making the shortened set a tough start for the tour. As reported by Today, Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris said Richie was "a little dehydrated" but did not offer further details about his condition. Richie had been wearing leather pants and a leather jacket during the show and was reportedly sweating heavily. At this stage, there has been no public statement from the singer or his representatives about any medical issue.
Chicago and Columbus Dates Stay on the Schedule
For now, Richie is still expected to perform in Chicago on Friday and in Columbus, Ohio, the following day. Those scheduled appearances remain on the calendar despite the abrupt end to the Minnesota concert. The incident also comes during a stretch when several veteran music stars have faced health issues while performing live. Richie’s team has not shared whether any changes will be made to upcoming dates. Fans are now waiting for an update on whether the singer will return to the stage as planned this weekend.
