Lionel Richie is taking some time away to recover from a medical procedure.
As USA Today reports, the singer and “American Idol” judge, 77, underwent a successful heart procedure, a representative for Richie confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, Sept. 22. “Lionel underwent a common procedure for Atrial fibrillation (AFib),” the statement said. “The doctor said everything went perfectly. Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon.”
The update comes nearly a month after Richie reportedly checked into a hospital in St. Louis Aug. 29 following a performance for his “Sing a Song All Night Long Tour” with Earth, Wind & Fire. During the show, he opened up about experiencing dehydration issues. Richie took a seat while performing the closing song, “All Night Long (All Night),” and sipped electrolyte drinks throughout the show, according to The St. Louis American.
“Some things have been happening on this tour that kind of shook me up a little bit, because I couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on,” Richie said during the set, according to the newspaper’s concert review. “I went back to the doctor, and he said, ‘You are suffering from dehydration.'”
What is AFib?
According to the Mayo Clinic, Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm. An irregular heart rhythm is called an arrhythmia. AFib can lead to blood clots in the heart. The condition also increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.
During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s upper chambers, called the atria, beat chaotically and irregularly. They beat out of sync with the lower heart chambers, called the ventricles. AFib may cause a fast, pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath or light-headedness. Some people don’t notice symptoms.
Episodes of atrial fibrillation may come and go, or they may be constant. AFib itself usually isn’t life-threatening. But it’s a serious condition that needs proper treatment to prevent stroke.
Treatment for AFib may include medicines, therapy to shock the heart back to a regular rhythm and procedures to block faulty heart signals.
A person with atrial fibrillation also may have a related heart rhythm disorder called atrial flutter. The treatments for AFib and atrial flutter are similar.
Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire had to Cancel Shows
Though the St. Louis concert was initially supposed to close out the tour, three dates were added in September and October due to shows that had to be rescheduled due to the performers’ health issues. The three performances – Sept. 26 in San Francisco, Sept. 30 in Chicago and Oct. 2 in Columbus, Ohio – are now canceled.
The original San Francisco date, Aug. 6, was pushed back after the drummer for EW&F, John Paris, experienced his own “medical emergency.” Paris had to be put in two medically induced comas but has since regained consciousness.
The June 24 concert in St. Paul, Minnesota, was cut short when Richie appeared to experience dizziness onstage and remained seated while performing several songs. After they postponed the June 26 show in Chicago and June 27 performance in Columbus, Richie and the band returned to the stage for their June 30 performance in Pittsburgh.
The decision was made “under advisement by doctors to rest and return to full health,” Richie’s statement said at the time. When he later returned to the stage, he joked, “When your vitamin pill kicks in, you’re going to dance on the ceiling.”
When is Lionel Richie performing next?
Richie is next scheduled to take the stage for a six-night residency at the Wynn Las Vegas’ Encore Theater on Oct. 14, 16 and 17, as well as Nov. 11, 13 and 14.
It remains to be seen whether Richie will return for his 10th season as a judge on “American Idol,” which announced that its milestone Season 25 will air in 2027.
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Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
