Lionel Richie Hospitalized Again Over Heart Condition; Three Concerts Called Off

Lionel Richie is said to have been admitted to a hospital after another issue involving his heart, resulting in three shows on his current tour with Earth, Wind & Fire being called off. TMZ reported, citing people directly familiar with the situation, that the 77-year-old performer is being treated for atrial fibrillation, often called AFib, which is a form of irregular heartbeat. The report stated that doctors are using an AFib ablation on Richie, a minimally invasive method intended to correct unusual electrical activity in the heart and help bring back a regular rhythm. The health problem has disrupted Richie’s Sing a Song All Night Long tour alongside Earth, Wind & Fire. Three scheduled concerts have reportedly been cancelled: a Saturday date in San Francisco, a Chicago show on September 30, and a Columbus, Ohio, performance on October 2. This marks the third reported hospital visit for Richie within three months. In August, the singer was reportedly admitted to a St. Louis hospital after a concert and remained in intensive care for several days while tests were conducted for cardiac concerns. He left the hospital after a three-day stay and went home. Richie had also been taken to a hospital in June after he became unwell at a concert in St. Paul. At that event, he reportedly told the crowd he was feeling dizzy and strange before ending the performance early. An ambulance crew then brought him to the hospital. Neither Richie nor his representatives have publicly released additional information about the latest reported hospitalization or indicated when he might return to the stage.