Lionel Richie cuts concert short after feeling dizzy during opening night of tour

Richie had shown no signs of illness before the concert and the singer was likely suffering from mild dehydration

Lionel Richie was forced to end the first show of his latest tour early after experiencing dizziness on stage during a performance in Minnesota on June 24, 2026. The 77-year-old music icon had been performing at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul when he began feeling unwell roughly 55 minutes into the concert.

According to reports from the venue, Richie told fans he was feeling dizzy while performing his hit “Dancing on the Ceiling”. The singer sat down during the song and joked with the crowd, saying, “When you're feeling dizzy, sit your ass down,” before moving to the piano to perform “Three Times a Lady”.

After the performance, Richie announced an unexpected intermission and left the stage. Around 40 minutes later, saxophonist Dino Soldo informed concertgoers that the singer was not feeling well enough to continue and that the show would be ending early.

Earth, Wind and Fire drummer John Paris later told local media that Richie had shown no signs of illness before the concert and suggested the singer was likely suffering from mild dehydration. Paris said Richie had appeared healthy during rehearsals and soundcheck earlier in the day.

The concert marked the opening night of Richie's 26-date Sing Along All Night Long tour with Earth, Wind & Fire, the third edition of the co-headlining trek following successful runs in 2023 and 2024. Despite the setback, Richie's next scheduled performance remains set for Chicago on June 26, 2026, with additional dates planned across North America before international shows later in the year.

Fans reacted with a mixture of concern and understanding following the incident, with many praising the Grammy winner for attempting to continue the show despite feeling unwell. Representatives for Richie had not issued a further health update at the time of reporting.