Lionel Richie hospitalized in St. Louis for dehydration following concert at The Muny

Hospitalization in St. Louis

American singer Lionel Richie, aged 77, was admitted to an intensive care unit in St. Louis, Missouri, following a performance on Saturday, August 29. The musician felt unwell toward the end of his set at The Muny amphitheatre in Forest Park. During the closing number, "All Night Long", Richie requested a chair from stage personnel so he could continue singing while seated, later informing concertgoers that he felt dizzy and strange.

A source close to the tour confirmed that Richie self-checked into a local medical facility out of caution after the concert. Medical staff treated the artist for suspected slight dehydration, and sources indicated he was in stable condition with the expectation of being discharged on Tuesday. Richie's management had not issued an official statement following the hospitalization.

Previous health incident in Minnesota

The St. Louis incident marks the second time in three months that the former Commodores singer experienced medical difficulties during a live concert. In June, Richie halted an appearance in St. Paul, Minnesota, while on a co-headlining tour with Earth, Wind and Fire. During that performance, he felt dizzy while singing "Dancing on the Ceiling" and completed the track seated on stage before leaving for an intermission.

Now, what I have learned about my years of being in the business: when you are feeling dizzy, sit your ass down. And when you are feeling strange about yourself, sit your ass down.

Approximately 40 minutes after the intermission began, touring saxophonist Dino Soldo addressed the audience to announce that the performance was called off because Richie was unwell. Paramedics evaluated the singer backstage before transporting him by ambulance to a hospital. On medical advice to rest and recover, Richie postponed two subsequent tour dates before resuming live performances in Pittsburgh on June 30.

Tour schedule and upcoming dates

The concert in Missouri was Richie's first performance since concluding his joint tour with Earth, Wind and Fire earlier in August in Austin, Texas. The singer has 10 additional performances listed on his itinerary for 2026, beginning with a concert at Chase Center in San Francisco on September 26.

Following the San Francisco date, Richie is scheduled for a six-show residency at Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas running from October 14 to November 13. His 2026 tour calendar concludes with an international appearance at Nubank Parque in São Paulo, Brazil, on December 19. Tour representatives have not confirmed whether the St. Louis hospitalization will result in any adjustments to the upcoming schedule.