Lionel Richie was hospitalized after his recent concert in St. Louis, where the legendary singer appeared to struggle toward the end of the performance and needed to sit down for the final song.

The 77-year-old singer and American Idol judge performed at The Muny in Forest Park on Saturday, August 29. During “All Night Long,” the closing song of his set, Richie asked his team to bring him a chair and completed the performance while seated. Witnesses reported that he appeared to be having some difficulty toward the end of the show.

Richie subsequently checked himself into a local hospital for medical tests. TMZ reported that doctors were looking into possible dehydration, while a source close to the singer’s tour told ABC News that he went to the hospital “out of an abundance of caution.”

A source close to Richie’s tour later told Rolling Stone that the singer is doing well following the hospitalization.

Richie’s health scare comes months after another onstage incident

The latest hospitalization comes only a few months after Richie experienced another health scare during the opening night of his Sing a Song All Night Long tour with Earth, Wind & Fire.

On June 24, during a concert in St. Paul, Minnesota, Richie told the audience that he was feeling dizzy and “strange.” About 55 minutes into the performance, he called for an unexpected break and sat down while performing “Dancing on the Ceiling.”

The show ultimately ended early, and Richie later postponed two scheduled concerts after doctors advised him to rest and return to full health.

Despite the concerning moment, Richie was able to return to the stage on June 30 in Pittsburgh. In early July, he reassured fans that he was doing well and thanked them for their messages and support.

The St. Louis performance was his first show since completing that run of dates with Earth, Wind & Fire. The two acts are scheduled to reunite for rescheduled performances in September and early October, while Richie also has a Las Vegas residency planned for October and November.

A familiar moment on stage

Richie’s decision to perform his final song while seated may have reminded some fans of the earlier incident in Minnesota.

During that June performance, the singer joked with the audience about his decision to sit down when he was feeling unwell. Despite the health scare, he maintained a lighthearted attitude onstage and eventually returned to performing after taking time to recover.

At the St. Louis concert, Richie again appeared determined to finish his set, even though he needed a chair for “All Night Long.”

The latest reports indicate that Richie is doing well following his hospital stay, although the precise cause of his symptoms has not been publicly confirmed. TMZ reported that doctors were investigating possible dehydration and that Richie hoped to be discharged Tuesday, September 1.

For now, there has been no confirmed announcement that his upcoming performances have been canceled or postponed. His next scheduled performance is currently set for September 26 in San Francisco.

Source: https://www.tvinsider.com/