Music legend Lionel Richie has undergone a heart procedure to treat atrial fibrillation, prompting the cancellation of three upcoming concerts on his ongoing tour with Earth, Wind & Fire.
The 77-year-old Grammy winning singer was recently hospitalised for the procedure, which his representative described as a common treatment for atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes an irregular heartbeat in the upper chambers of the heart.
Speaking to Variety, Richie’s representative said the procedure went perfectly and that the singer was doing well. The representative added that Richie would take some time away from performing before returning to the stage.
The cancelled performances include shows scheduled for September 26 in San Francisco, September 30 in Chicago and October 2 in Columbus, Ohio. His remaining schedule, including performances at the Encore Theatre in Las Vegas from October 14, was still listed as proceeding at the time of reporting.
The latest development comes after a series of health scares during Richie’s Sing a Song All Night Long tour.
In June, Richie brought a concert in St Paul, Minnesota, to an early end after telling fans he felt dizzy. He sat down during the performance and subsequently postponed two shows to rest and recover. He returned to the stage several days later and reassured fans that he was doing well.
Then, on August 29, Richie checked himself into hospital after performing in St Louis. He had asked for a chair while singing All Night Long and was later admitted for precautionary cardiac tests. He was released on September 2 and reported to be doing well.
