Lionel Richie Cuts St. Paul Concert Short After Dizziness on Opening Night of 26-City Tour

Lionel Richie's 2026 leg of the "Sing a Song All Night Long" tour got off to a rough start Wednesday night. The 77-year-old singer was about an hour into his set at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, when he stopped mid-performance of "Dancing on the Ceiling" and sat down on a stage platform.

He told the crowd he was feeling dizzy. "When you're feeling dizzy, sit your ass down," he said, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. He acknowledged it was his first time performing the song seated.

Richie moved to a grand piano and delivered a seated rendition of "Three Times a Lady," then announced an unplanned intermission and walked off. His band stayed on stage for roughly 15 more minutes before also departing, with recorded music filling the arena.

Fans waited nearly 40 minutes with no official update. At approximately 10:50 p.m., Richie's saxophonist Dino Soldo returned to the stage with the news. "Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well," Soldo said, per Us Weekly's account citing the Star Tribune. "He won't be able to continue. Additional information will be available."

The concert had been scheduled to run 90 minutes. It ended at about 55. Earth, Wind & Fire had opened the night with their own 50-minute set, according to Us Weekly.

What We Know About His Condition

John Paris, the drummer for Earth, Wind & Fire, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that Richie showed no signs of illness before taking the stage. Paris said Richie later described himself as feeling "a little dehydrated." That's the only direct account of a cause on the record as of June 25.

Richie's team issued a brief statement shared with CBS Minnesota via WCCO: "Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well. We won't be able to continue with tonight's show." As of this writing, Richie himself has not addressed the incident publicly, and TheWrap reported that his representative did not respond to their request for comment.

The Tour Context

This was the opening night of a 26-city run that was first announced in January 2026, per Us Weekly. The tour has run in previous years. A 2023 leg and a 2024 leg preceded this edition. Scheduled stops include New York City, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, with the tour set to conclude in Austin, Texas, on August 14.

Richie posted multiple times on Instagram in the days before the show, expressing enthusiasm and gratitude to his crew. "Saint Paul, here we come," he wrote in an Instagram Story on Tuesday, June 23. John Paris's account of no pre-show warning signs is consistent with the posts. Nothing publicly signaled a health concern going in.

Age and Tour Scheduling

Richie is 77 years old, co-headlining a tour with Earth, Wind & Fire across 26 cities through mid-August. The reasonable concern from fans: is a concert schedule of this density appropriate for someone his age, particularly after a mid-show health episode attributed to dehydration? Plenty of artists in their 70s tour without incident, and dehydration is a common, treatable condition. Rod Stewart, who is in his 80s, has faced similar scrutiny after multiple cancellations. One incident does not establish a pattern. What it does establish is that Richie's team owes ticketholders clarity before Chicago.

What Happens Next

Richie is scheduled to perform Friday at the United Center in Chicago with Earth, Wind & Fire. As of June 25, no cancellation has been announced for that date, but neither has a formal update on his health status. TheWrap noted there is "no word yet" on whether the St. Paul incident affects Chicago.

CBS News reported that it remains unclear whether St. Paul concertgoers will receive refunds. Grand Casino Arena has not publicly addressed that question. The arena did pass along Richie's team statement but offered nothing further on ticket policy.