Lionel Richie is recovering after undergoing a procedure for atrial fibrillation, and his team says the doctor reported everything went perfectly. The music icon has been dealing with heart issues off and on since his arena tour with Earth, Wind&Fire began on June 24. At the tour opener, he felt shaky and dizzy during“Dancin’on the Ceiling,”and after his Aug. 29 show in St. Louis, he checked himself into a hospital.
Because of the procedure, three upcoming concerts have been canceled: San Francisco on Sept. 26, Chicago on Sept. 30 and Columbus on Oct. 2. Fans in those cities are obviously disappointed, but his rep says he is doing great and will be back on stage soon. The bright spot? His next scheduled dates are a six-show Las Vegas residency starting Oct. 14, so the comeback is already on the calendar.
This news hits a little harder when you remember that Earth, Wind&Fire drummer John Paris also dealt with a heart attack during this tour run. Two legends, one tour, a whole lot of health scares. The good news is Richie is on the mend and Vegas is waiting. Which Lionel Richie song would you want to hear him perform first when he’s back?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.