Music icon Lionel Richie has been hospitalized after performing in St. Louis, Missouri, in the latest health scare to affect the 77-year-old singer.
Richie was admitted to an intensive care unit after his August 29 performance at The Muny in Forest Park, where he completed his concert despite appearing to struggle toward the end of the show.
According to TMZ, Richie checked himself into a local hospital after the concert to undergo medical tests. Sources told the publication that doctors were investigating possible slight dehydration and that the singer was being cautious about his health.
A source close to Richie’s tour later told Rolling Stone that the singer was doing okay, offering reassurance to fans concerned about his condition.
Concern about Richie’s health emerged during the final moments of his St. Louis performance.
The singer performed his 1983 hit “All Night Long” as the closing number but reportedly asked his team to bring him a stool so he could sit while completing the song. Videos from the concert showed Richie continuing to perform while seated, allowing him to finish the show despite appearing to need additional support.
His hospitalization came shortly after the performance, prompting renewed concern among fans because the singer had experienced another health scare earlier this year. Richie had previously become ill during a June 24 concert in St. Paul, Minnesota.
During that performance, he stopped the show after about 55 minutes and told the audience that he was feeling dizzy. He also sat down while performing “Dancing on the Ceiling” before announcing an unexpected intermission.
Richie subsequently took time away from performing before returning to the stage.
Despite the hospitalization, Richie remains scheduled for a series of upcoming performances.
His next concert for September 26, 2026, at Chase Center in San Francisco, where he will perform alongside Earth, Wind & Fire as part of the Sing a Song All Night Long Tour is still on schedule. The San Francisco performance was previously rescheduled, with the venue confirming that tickets for the original date will be honoured for the new September 26 show.
At 77, the singer continues to maintain an active career that includes live performances, television appearances and other entertainment projects. Richie has also remained a judge on American Idol, further adding to his busy professional schedule.
