Lionel Richie, 77, hospitalized as another heart scare halts his tour for third time in three months
LIONEL Richie has been hospitalized again after suffering another heart issue.
The music superstar and the band he is on tour with, Earth, Wind & Fire, have even been forced to cancel their next three shows, it has been reported.
The singer, known for his hits including Hello and All Night Long, appeared to become unwell during the end of his most recent concert where he was left struggling to breathe.
And now he has been taken to hospital again, leaving fans worried and concerned.
Sources have told TMZ that Lionel is “currently hospitalized and receiving treatment for atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat”.
They also report he is being treated with an “AFib ablation”, which is not considered major.
The “minimally invasive” procedure is used to create tiny scars in the heart which then “block faulty electrical signals” and help restore it to a normal rhythm.
Due to the latest health scare, the Earth, Wind, & Fire concerts which were scheduled for this upcoming Saturday in San Francisco, as well as the shows on September 30 in Chicago and October 2 in Columbus, Ohio, have been postponed.
It’s the third time in less than three months that Lionel has been admitted into the hospital for heart-related issues – and just a couple weeks after his last health scare.
In early September, he spent time in a St. Louis intensive care unit during a three day stint following his performance in the city.
Lionel first sparked concern in June when he became dizzy during a performance in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was taken for medical attention after cutting the show short.
Two subsequent tour dates were postponed on doctors’ orders, though Lionel soon returned to the stage and reassured fans that he was doing well.
Then, on August 29, Lionel checked himself into a St. Louis hospital after performing with Earth, Wind & Fire, where he spent three days and underwent cardiac tests in the intensive care unit.
The hospitalization was described as precautionary, with reports indicating dehydration may have played a role.
He was released September 2 and sources told PEOPLE at the time that he was back in Los Angeles and “doing great.”
The health scares came as Lionel continues his demanding Sing A Song All Night Long tour – making the latest setback particularly concerning for fans.
Lionel has not yet spoken out about his latest condition.
