Nationwide — Legendary singer and songwriter Lionel Richie has been hospitalized again for an ongoing heart problem, forcing him and Earth, Wind & Fire to cancel three upcoming shows on their Sing a Song All Night Long tour. The singer is receiving treatment for atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can cause the heart to beat too quickly or unevenly.
Doctors are treating Richie with an AFib ablation, a minimally invasive procedure designed to help restore a more regular heart rhythm. During the treatment, doctors create small areas of scar tissue inside the heart to stop abnormal electrical signals from causing irregular beats. While the procedure is not generally considered major, Richie remains hospitalized as he receives treatment and monitoring.
His health issue has also changed the schedule for the Sing a Song All Night Long tour. According to TMZ, the next three shows, set for San Francisco, Chicago, and Columbus, Ohio, have been canceled. The San Francisco performance was scheduled for Saturday, followed by shows in Chicago on September 30 and Columbus on October 2. No new dates have been announced for the canceled performances.
This is the third time Richie has been hospitalized in roughly three months. In August, he went to a hospital in St. Louis after performing a concert and remained there for three days. He spent part of that time in the intensive care unit while doctors conducted tests related to his heart. He was later released from the hospital and returned home.
The earlier hospitalization followed another medical emergency in June. During a concert in St. Paul, Richie reportedly began feeling dizzy and described himself as feeling strange. He was unable to finish the performance and was taken from the venue by ambulance after paramedics responded. That episode also led to medical tests and raised concerns about his heart.
With three hospitalizations in a short period, Richie’s latest medical treatment has now directly affected his touring schedule. His canceled performances are the immediate result of doctors treating his irregular heartbeat, while his medical team continues to monitor his recovery. Further details about when he will return to the stage have not been provided.