Lionel Richie Postpones Two Shows After Medical Scare in St. Paul

The 77-year-old singer cut his St. Paul set short after feeling dizzy, and was reportedly transported to a local hospital.

Lionel Richie has postponed his June 26 concert in Chicago and his June 27 show in Columbus, Ohio, following doctors' orders to rest after cutting short his performance in St. Paul, Minnesota earlier this week. The cancellations come after Richie, 77, told the St. Paul crowd he was feeling dizzy and performed portions of his set seated, before leaving the stage entirely. Page Six reported he was subsequently transported to a local hospital.

What Happened in St. Paul

The St. Paul show was slated to be the kickoff of Richie's co-headlining tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. Instead, it became a night of concern for the roughly 10,000 fans in attendance. Richie acknowledged from the stage that he was feeling dizzy and strange, and performed ‘Dancing on the Ceiling' seated. ‘When you're feeling dizzy, sit your ass down,' he told the crowd. He then performed ‘Three Times a Lady' seated at a piano before announcing an intermission.

Richie never returned. His backing band remained onstage for around 15 minutes while the audience waited. After approximately 40 minutes, saxophonist Dino Soldo addressed the crowd directly. ‘Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well,' Soldo said. ‘He won't be able to continue with the show.' By that point, Richie had been onstage for less than an hour.

Page Six subsequently reported that Richie was hospitalized following the concert. Saint Paul Fire Department PIO Jamie Smith confirmed to the outlet that ‘we did transport an adult male from the arena last night to a local hospital.' A representative for Richie had not returned comment to other outlets at press time.

Shows Postponed, Pittsburgh Date Still On

Richie's team issued a statement confirming the postponements. ‘Under advisement by doctors to rest and return to full health, Lionel Richie has postponed his next two concerts,' the statement read. ‘Lionel is heartbroken to postpone these two shows and cannot wait to be back performing for his fans.'

Rescheduled dates for Chicago and Columbus had not been announced at press time. According to the statement, Richie is expected to return to the stage on June 30 in Pittsburgh.

Earth, Wind & Fire's John Paris told the Minnesota Star Tribune he believed Richie was ‘a little dehydrated' and that Richie had appeared normal before the concert began.

Postponed Dates

The following shows have been postponed, with rescheduled dates to be announced:

• June 26 — Chicago, IL
• June 27 — Columbus, OH

Richie's Own Words on Longevity

The incident carries an ironic weight given Richie's long-stated commitment to performing. In a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, he was unequivocal about his intentions. ‘They're gonna have to carry me out, babe,' he said. ‘Someone asked me years ago, “When do you plan on retiring?” And I said, “From what?” I've never had a job. People who work want to retire.'

What we know

• Lionel Richie postponed his June 26 Chicago and June 27 Columbus concerts on doctors' orders.
• Richie cut his St. Paul, Minnesota concert short after telling the crowd he felt dizzy and strange.
• Richie performed ‘Dancing on the Ceiling' and ‘Three Times a Lady' seated before leaving the stage; he was onstage for less than an hour.
• Saxophonist Dino Soldo informed the crowd of approximately 10,000 that Richie would not be returning to the stage.
• Saint Paul Fire Department PIO Jamie Smith confirmed an adult male was transported from the arena to a local hospital.
• Earth, Wind & Fire's John Paris said he believed Richie was ‘a little dehydrated' and had seemed normal before the show.
• Richie is expected to return to the stage on June 30 in Pittsburgh, per his team's statement.

The take

A co-headlining summer tour pairing Lionel Richie with Earth, Wind & Fire is exactly the kind of legacy package that has driven classic soul and R&B touring for the past decade. Both acts carry deep catalogs and multigenerational audiences, and the format has proven commercially durable well into the streaming era. That makes the St. Paul incident all the more significant as a logistical and reputational moment for the tour.

Richie turns 77 this year, and while age alone is no barrier to performing at the highest level, the physical demands of a full production tour are considerable. Artists of his generation routinely push through grueling schedules, and dehydration is among the most common and correctable culprits when a performer hits a wall mid-show. The fact that his team is citing doctors' orders and projecting a return date just four days out suggests the situation, while serious enough to warrant hospitalization, is not expected to derail the broader run.

Historically, when legacy artists cancel dates mid-tour, the industry watches closely for any pattern of further postponements. Richie's team moving quickly to confirm a Pittsburgh return date and frame the Chicago and Columbus shows as postponements rather than cancellations is a deliberate signal to promoters, ticket holders, and Earth, Wind & Fire's camp that the tour remains intact. Whether that timeline holds will be the real story to watch.

Why it matters

For classic soul fans who have followed Richie across five decades, this is a jarring moment. Co-headlining tours of this scale represent some of the last opportunities to see artists of this era perform at full production value, and any health disruption raises questions that go beyond a single rescheduled date. The speed with which Richie's team communicated and set a return date reflects how much is at stake, both for the tour's remaining dates and for the broader confidence of promoters booking legacy acts into large arenas.

What's next

Richie's team has indicated he is expected back onstage on June 30 in Pittsburgh. Rescheduled dates for the postponed June 26 Chicago and June 27 Columbus shows had not been announced at press time. Fans holding tickets for those shows should monitor official channels for updates.

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