Lionel Richie Undergoes Heart Procedure, ‘Will Be Back on Stage Soon’ After Canceling Next Three Shows — SkimNews
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- Lionel Richie underwent a common procedure for atrial fibrillation (AFib) this week, with his representative telling Variety the doctor said "everything went perfectly" and the singer is "doing great."
- Richie's representative said the procedure was performed on a non-emergency basis and that the singer "will take some time off and will be back on stage soon."
- The joint tour with Earth, Wind & Fire has canceled its next three dates — Saturday night in San Francisco, Sept. 30 in Chicago, and Oct. 2 in Columbus, Ohio — because of Richie's recovery.
- Richie's Las Vegas dates, a three-night stand at the Encore Theater beginning Oct. 14, remain on his concert calendar as of publication.
- The hospitalization is the latest in a string of recent health scares: on June 24 he cut a Minneapolis show short after feeling dizzy, on Aug. 29 he checked into a hospital "out of caution" following a St. Louis performance, and he has canceled dates multiple times this summer before quickly returning to the stage.
- AFib, per the Mayo Clinic description cited in the article, is treated by creating tiny scars in an area of the heart using heat, cold, or high-energy electric pulses to block faulty heartbeat signals.
- Richie's July 4 social media post addressed fans directly after returning from the earlier scare, writing: "Thank you for every message, every kind word, and for all your love. I'm doing well, and I'm grateful for all of you."
Why it matters: At 76, Richie's repeated health episodes — three cancellations and two hospital visits in roughly three months — raise real questions about whether the touring pace of a legacy arena act is sustainable, even as his team insists each incident has been minor and the Vegas dates remain on the books for mid-October.
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