Lionel Richie’s frightening onstage health scare has sparked new fears about whether the music legend can keep up with his demanding touring schedule.
The 77-year-old Grammy winner reportedly left fans stunned during a concert in St. Louis after becoming dizzy, asking for a chair and struggling to make it through his hit “Dancing on the Ceiling.”
Richie was later rushed to a nearby intensive care unit, according to RadarOnline.
Now, people close to the singer are reportedly urging him to put his health first before returning to the stage.
“Lionel is dedicated to his career and his audience,” a source told the outlet. “But people around him are begging him to get the care he needs before he gets back on stage and puts his life on the line again.”
During the performance, Richie reportedly admitted to the crowd that he was feeling lightheaded.
“When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your a– down,” he joked.
The longtime entertainer then performed “Three Times a Lady” while seated at the piano before taking an unexpected break.
The episode has raised concerns among medical experts, although the doctors who spoke to RadarOnline have not treated Richie and cannot diagnose what happened.
New York internist Dr. Stuart Fischer said the symptoms could be consistent with a heart-related problem and argued that Richie should undergo careful medical evaluation before returning to a physically demanding tour.
“It reads like a classic cardiac episode,” Fischer told the outlet, pointing to dizziness and the reported ICU visit as reasons for concern.
Florida physician and longevity expert Dr. Gabe Mirkin, who also has not treated Richie, said testing could help doctors determine what caused the alarming episode.
Mirkin suggested an electrocardiogram, commonly known as an EKG, could check for an irregular heartbeat, while additional testing might be needed to rule out other serious medical problems.
The St. Louis incident was reportedly not Richie’s first recent health scare.
The “All Night Long” singer cut short a performance in St. Paul, Minnesota, in June after another medical issue and postponed two shows. He later assured disappointed fans that he was eager to return.
But following the latest scare, advisers are reportedly pushing Richie to undergo a comprehensive medical workup before he heads back under the bright lights.
Fischer warned that at 77, Richie may need to reconsider just how hard he pushes himself onstage.
“Someone his age needs to adjust their physical exertion,” the doctor said. “You can’t safely go straight from the ICU to MSG.”
For Richie, who has spent decades entertaining packed arenas around the world, the question now may be whether his body is telling him it is finally time to slow down.
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