American singer Lionel Richie has been hospitalised in St Louis after performing at The Muny on Saturday, August 29, with reports saying doctors were carrying out tests for possible dehydration.
The 77-year-old music star checked himself into a local hospital after completing the concert, according to multiple reports. A source close to his tour described the decision as a precautionary measure.
Richie was reportedly admitted to an intensive care unit for medical tests. TMZ, citing sources with direct knowledge, reported that doctors were investigating possible slight dehydration. There has been no public confirmation that dehydration is the definitive cause of his hospitalisation.
During Saturday’s performance at The Muny in Forest Park, Richie appeared to experience some difficulty towards the end of the show.
For the final song, All Night Long, he asked his team to bring a chair onto the stage and performed the number while seated. Video from the concert shows him continuing with the performance.
The concert was The Muny’s annual summer-finale event. The venue had advertised the performance as a one-night-only appearance by the international music star.
Second health scare this summer
The latest hospitalisation comes only weeks after Richie experienced another health scare during his Sing a Song All Night Long tour with Earth, Wind & Fire.
On June 24, during a performance in St Paul, Minnesota, Richie stopped the concert after telling the audience that he felt dizzy and unwell. The incident resulted in the postponement of two subsequent shows. He later returned to the stage, including performances on June 30 and July 1.
Richie also referred to the earlier incident during his St Louis performance. According to The St Louis American, he told the audience that doctors had previously attributed his symptoms to dehydration. He was seen drinking an electrolyte beverage during the show.
The latest episode has raised questions about the singer’s demanding touring schedule, although there has been no announcement that his upcoming performances have been cancelled.
His next listed concert is scheduled for September 26 at San Francisco’s Chase Center. The performance was previously rescheduled and is set to feature Richie with Earth, Wind & Fire.
A career spanning more than five decades
Richie is one of the most successful figures in American popular music. He first rose to international prominence as a member of the Commodores before establishing a hugely successful solo career.
His catalogue includes songs such as Hello, All Night Long, Dancing on the Ceiling and Say You, Say Me. He has sold more than 125 million albums worldwide and has won four Grammy Awards, an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
He has also remained a prominent television figure as a judge on American Idol, alongside his work as a performer and songwriter.
Richie’s representatives have not publicly disclosed further details about his condition. However, a source close to his tour told Rolling Stone that the singer is OK following the hospitalisation.
For now, the circumstances surrounding his hospital stay remain limited to reports from outlets and sources close to the singer, with no detailed medical statement released by Richie or his representatives.
