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Lionel Richie presses pause on tour due to heart procedure

A close-up shot of Lionel Richie smiling broadly at the camera, wearing a dark suit jacket and a white shirt, with a blurry purple background that reads "BREAKTHROUGH PRIZE".

Published by Cover Media

23 Sep 2026

Lionel Richie is taking time off from touring after undergoing a heart procedure.

The music superstar, who is 77, has undergone a procedure for atrial fibrillation, his representative confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday.

"The doctor said everything went perfectly," the rep shared in a statement.

"Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon."

AFib (atrial fibrillation) is the most common type of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). According to the Heart Foundation, it happens when chaotic electrical signals make the top chambers of your heart, the atria, twitch or quiver instead of pumping properly. The condition can be treated by medication, surgery and lifestyle changes.

Richie has faced several health challenges since beginning a nationwide tour with Earth, Wind & Fire earlier this summer.

The Hello singer postponed two shows after falling ill on stage during the first night of the tour in late June.

In late August, Richie checked himself into a hospital out of "an abundance of caution", a source close to the tour told ABC News. No further details were shared about his condition at the time.

Richie has three upcoming tour dates scheduled for late September and early October in San Francisco, Columbus and Chicago, according to his website.

Published by Cover Media

23 Sep 2026