Lionel Richie's Falls Ill, Abruptly Ends Opening Night of Tour

Lionel Richie performs in Paris in 2025. (Photo: Kristy Sparow / Getty Images file)

Icon Lionel Richie cut his opening night concert short after the singer felt ill. During the 1st stop of the Sing A Song All Night Long" tour in Saint Paul, Minnesota he told the audience he was feeling dizzy.

In one video posted on X, Richie was performing “Dancing on the Ceiling” when he sat down on the stage. He stood up and walked for a while before sitting down again while continuing to sing. In another video posted on Instagram, he spoke to the crowd at Grand Casino Arena directly.

“What I have learned about my years of being in the business, when you are feeling dizzy, sit yo a—down,” he said. “And when you are feeling strange about yourself, sit yo a—down. Now, I want you to know that’s the first time in the history of ‘Dancing on the Ceiling’ I’ve done it sitting down. That’s a bad sign, that’s a bad sign, y’all.”

The singer performed one more song at the piano before announcing an unplanned intermission, saying ""intermission, intermission, so I don't fall over," and walked off the back of the stage.  Shortly after, a man came onstage and announced that Richie was not feeling well and would not continue the show.

Since then, tour stops in Chicago and Columbus have been postponed while Lionel recovers. The tour also stars Earth, Wind, & Fire.