Lionel Richie has reportedly been hospitalised after experiencing another heart-related issue, prompting the cancellation of three upcoming shows on his tour with Earth, Wind & Fire.
According to TMZ, sources with direct knowledge of the situation said the 77-year-old singer is receiving treatment for atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib, a type of irregular heartbeat.
The report said doctors are treating Richie with an AFib ablation, a minimally invasive procedure used to address abnormal electrical signals in the heart and help restore a normal rhythm. Richie’s latest health issue has affected his ongoing “Sing a Song All Night Long” tour with Earth, Wind & Fire.
Three upcoming concerts have reportedly been cancelled, including a show scheduled for Saturday in San Francisco, followed by performances in Chicago on September 30 and Columbus, Ohio, on October 2. The latest hospitalisation is Richie’s third reported hospital visit in three months.
In August, the singer reportedly admitted himself to a hospital in St. Louis following a concert and spent several days in the intensive care unit while undergoing tests for cardiac issues. He was discharged after a three-day hospital stay and returned home. Richie had also been taken to hospital in June after becoming unwell during a concert in St. Paul.
During that performance, he reportedly told the audience that he was feeling “dizzy” and “strange” before ending the show early. Paramedics subsequently transported him to hospital by ambulance. Richie and his representatives have not publicly provided further details about his latest reported hospitalisation or when he is expected to resume performing.