Lionel Richie ended the opening night of his co-headlining tour early after experiencing dizziness on stage, later postponing tour dates on doctor’s orders.
Lionel Richie, co-headlining the "Sing A Song All Night Long Tour" with Earth, Wind & Fire, ended the opening night performance at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 24, 2026, early after experiencing dizziness. He later postponed subsequent tour dates on doctor’s advice.
Incident During Performance
During his performance of the song "Dancing on the Ceiling," Richie sat down on stage. He addressed the audience, stating that when one feels dizzy, it is best to sit down. He noted that it was the first time he had performed that song while seated.
Richie then performed "Three Times a Lady" from the piano before leaving the stage during an announced intermission. He did not return.
After a delay of approximately 40 minutes, saxophonist Dino Soldo informed the audience that Richie was unable to continue and that additional information would be provided. The concert, planned for 90 minutes, ended after about 55 minutes.
Richie’s drummer, John Paris of Earth, Wind & Fire, stated that Richie showed no prior signs of illness and later attributed the incident to dehydration. Richie was taken to a hospital as a precaution.
Postponement of Tour Dates
Under advisement from doctors, Richie postponed two scheduled performances:
- June 26, 2026: Concert at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
- June 27, 2026: Concert in Columbus, Ohio.
A representative from promoter Live Nation stated that the postponements were made to allow Richie to rest and return to full health. A rescheduled date for the Chicago and Columbus shows has not yet been announced.
Remaining Tour Schedule
Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire are scheduled to resume the "Sing A Song All Night Long Tour" on June 30, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The tour includes further planned dates in Toronto, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, Texas.
“It was the first time I had performed that song while seated.”
— Lionel Richie, addressing the audience