Lionel Richie Cuts Concert Short After Falling Ill on Stage

The 77-year-old singer was performing at Grand Casino Arena on Wednesday, June 24, as part of the opening night of the 2026 leg of his Sing a Song All Night Long tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. About 55 minutes into his set, Richie told concertgoers that he was feeling dizzy while performing one of his most energetic hits, “Dancing on the Ceiling.

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According to reports from the Minnesota Star Tribune, Richie sat down on a step on the stage during the song and later addressed the crowd about his condition. He told the audience that when someone feels dizzy, they should sit down, adding that it was the first time he had ever performed the song while seated.

Afterward, Richie moved to a grand piano and performed “Three Times a Lady” while sitting. He then announced an unexpected intermission and exited the stage through a giant screen displaying his name.

His five band members remained on stage for approximately 15 minutes before leaving without making an announcement. Recorded music continued to play at a low volume inside the arena as concertgoers waited for updates.

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Around 40 minutes after Richie left the stage, saxophonist Dino Soldo returned to address the audience. He thanked fans for their patience before delivering the news that Richie would not be returning to continue the show.
“Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well,” Soldo told the crowd. “He won’t be able to continue. Additional information will be available.”

The concert had been expected to feature a 90-minute set from Richie. Earlier in the evening, Earth, Wind & Fire had opened the show with a 50-minute performance.

Following the concert, Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris told the Minnesota Star Tribune that there had been no indication before the show that anything was wrong. Paris said Richie appeared fine earlier in the day and suggested dehydration may have played a role, though he noted that he did not know Richie’s official medical status.

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The St. Paul concert marked the first stop of the latest leg of the Sing a Song All Night Long tour, which Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire previously staged in 2023 and 2024. The current run includes 26 dates across North America.

Just hours before taking the stage, Richie had shared his excitement about launching the tour. In social media posts, he thanked his band and crew for their work preparing for the shows and expressed enthusiasm about opening night in St. Paul.

At the time of reporting, no official update had been provided regarding Richie’s condition. The tour is scheduled to continue with a stop in Chicago on Friday, though it remains unclear whether any changes will be made to upcoming performances