Lionel Richie was forced to end the opening night of his latest tour early after becoming ill during a performance in Minnesota.
According to Fox News, the 77-year-old music icon had been on stage for nearly an hour Thursday night at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul when concertgoers noticed something was wrong.
While performing his hit song “Dancing on the Ceiling,” Richie suddenly paused, sat down on a platform, and later told the audience he was feeling dizzy.
Despite the interruption, the Grammy-winning singer kept the mood light.
“When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your a** down,” Richie joked as the crowd responded with cheers.
According to fan videos and local reports, Richie then moved to the piano, where he remained seated while performing “Three Times a Lady.” Audience members initially believed the pause was temporary when he walked off the stage shortly afterward.
Fans remained in the arena for nearly 40 minutes before receiving an update.
Richie’s saxophonist addressed the crowd and thanked everyone for their patience before announcing that the singer was not feeling well enough to continue the show. The concert ended about 55 minutes after it began, falling well short of its planned 90-minute runtime.
Earlier in the day, Richie appeared enthusiastic about launching the tour. He shared behind-the-scenes photos from rehearsals and soundcheck on Instagram, writing, “Opening night. Rehearsals. Sound check. Showtime tonight. Saint Paul, you’re up!!!”
Members of the touring band also indicated the medical issue came as a surprise. John Paris, drummer for Earth, Wind & Fire, said Richie did not appear sick before taking the stage.
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Richie later told those around him that he believed he was “a little dehydrated.”
Videos showing the singer taking a break during the performance quickly spread across social media as fans expressed concern and wished him a speedy recovery.
At this point, Richie’s tour schedule remains unchanged. He is expected to return to the stage in Chicago on Friday before continuing performances in Toronto, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
The North American tour is scheduled to conclude on Aug. 14 in Austin, Texas. There has been no announcement regarding whether the shortened Minnesota concert will be rescheduled.