Lionel Richie is taking a break from the road after being hospitalized Tuesday for atrial fibrillation. The 77-year-old music icon underwent a common AFib ablation procedure, and his rep told Page Six the doctor said everything went perfectly.“Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon,”the statement read. It’s his second hospitalization in a month, following a three-day ICU stay in August.
Because of the recovery time, three dates on his co-headlining tour with Earth, Wind&Fire have been canceled: September 26 in San Francisco, September 30 in Chicago, and October 2 in Columbus, Ohio. Ticket holders should check with their point of purchase for refund details, and keep an eye out for rescheduled dates.
Richie has been a touring fixture for decades, and at 77 he’s still packing arenas on the strength of a catalog that spans“All Night Long,”“Hello,”and everything in between. A pause here is just good sense, and the response from fans has been nothing but love and well-wishes. What’s your favorite Lionel Richie memory? Drop it in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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