Lionel Richie Suffered Another Heart Scare And Canceled Three Shows

Lionel Richie faced another heart scare this week as the music legend underwent a procedure that forced three upcoming concerts with Earth, Wind & Fire to be canceled.

The 77-year-old icon was hospitalized for treatment of atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib, an irregular heart rhythm that begins in the heart’s upper chambers. Richie underwent an ablation procedure as doctors addressed the condition.

“Lionel underwent a common procedure for Atrial fibrillation (AFib),” Richie’s representative said. “The doctor said everything went perfectly.”

The representative added, “Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon.”

The health setback has brought Richie’s “Sing a Song All Night Long” tour with Earth, Wind & Fire to another unexpected stop.

Concerts scheduled for Sept. 26 at Chase Center in San Francisco, Sept. 30 at United Center in Chicago and Oct. 2 at Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, have been canceled.

The latest hospitalization comes only weeks after Richie spent several days in the hospital following an Aug. 29 performance in St. Louis.

During that concert, Richie reportedly needed to sit down while performing his closing song, “All Night Long.” He later checked himself into a hospital where doctors conducted cardiac testing. Richie was released Sept. 2 and returned home.

That episode followed another health problem earlier in the summer.

Richie became dizzy during the opening night of his tour with Earth, Wind & Fire in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 24. He performed part of the show while seated before ending the concert early. Doctors subsequently advised him to rest, leading to postponed performances. He returned to the stage June 30.

Richie had just resurfaced publicly over the weekend.

He was photographed outside Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills with girlfriend Lisa Parigi and appeared upbeat while acknowledging photographers.