American music icon Lionel Richie has been hospitalised for the third time since June after experiencing heart problems during his ongoing tour.
The 77-year-old singer has cancelled his next three concerts with Earth, Wind & Fire to allow him time to recover.
The affected shows were scheduled for Saturday in San Francisco, September 30 in Chicago and October 2 in Columbus, Ohio, according to TMZ.
Richie’s representative told The Independent on Tuesday that the singer underwent a procedure to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib) and is recovering well.
“Lionel underwent a common procedure for Atrial fibrillation (AFib). The doctor said everything went perfectly. Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon.”
AFib is the most common form of irregular heart rhythm. Although it is not generally considered life-threatening on its own, it can lead to other health complications.
Possible symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, heart palpitations and shortness of breath.
Lionel Richie’s Previous Hospital Visits
The latest hospitalisation follows two previous health-related incidents during Richie’s tour.
In August, the American Idol judge spent three days in hospital after struggling to complete his August 29 performance in St Louis, Missouri.
Richie became visibly winded during the concert and asked for a chair while performing “All Night Long”, the final song of the night. He later left the stage and was admitted to the intensive care unit.
His first hospital visit came on June 24 during the opening show of his tour in St Paul, Minnesota, after he experienced a dizzy spell.
While performing “Dancing on the Ceiling”, Richie acknowledged that he had never performed the song while seated before joking about his condition.
“Now, what I have learned about my years of being in the business: when you are feeling dizzy, sit your ass down.
He later moved to the piano and performed another song before taking an unscheduled break, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Following the episode, Richie postponed two tour dates after consulting a doctor.
He later reassured fans in an Instagram post on July 4, thanking them for their support and saying he was recovering well.
Richie’s Tour Plans
Richie first rose to prominence as a member of The Commodores before launching a highly successful solo career.
His current tour is scheduled to conclude on October 2. He is then expected to begin his King of Hearts Las Vegas residency on October 14, with performances scheduled through mid-November.
