Richie also addressed his health during the concert, telling the crowd that a doctor had diagnosed dehydration.
“Some things have been happening on this tour that kind of shook me up,” he said. While drinking electrolytes, he added: “This stuff is nasty, but it works.” Medical beverages rarely receive strong reviews for flavour. Their priorities lie elsewhere.
Why was Richie treated in intensive care?
TMZ reported that Richie checked himself into a St Louis hospital as a precaution and underwent tests in intensive care. Doctors were investigating possible dehydration, although neither Richie nor his representatives had issued a detailed public statement confirming the diagnosis.
A tour source quoted by Us Weekly said the singer “wanted to get checked out” and was doing well. That account, along with the eyewitness reports, presents a less dramatic picture than the phrase “intensive care” might suggest. Still, an ICU admission is significant, particularly after an earlier health problem on the same run of performances.
The available reporting indicates that Richie chose to seek medical attention after finishing the show, rather than being removed from the stage or ending the concert early. His representatives were contacted for comment.
The singer’s official schedule still lists a 26 September performance in San Francisco as his next appearance. Rescheduled concerts in Chicago and Columbus are due to follow. Those dates had not been removed at the time of the latest reports.
What happened at his June tour opener?
The St Louis hospital visit came just over two months after Richie became dizzy during the opening night of his Sing a Song All Night Long tour in St Paul, Minnesota, on 24 June.
About 55 minutes into the show, performed before roughly 10,000 people, Richie told the audience he felt unwell. He sat at a piano and attempted to continue, offering some direct medical advice to himself and everyone else present: “When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your ass down.”
After he played at the piano, the concert paused for an unexpected intermission. Saxophonist Dino Soldo returned approximately 40 minutes later and told the crowd the performance could not continue.
“Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well,” Soldo said. “He won’t be able to continue. Additional information will be available.”
Doctors subsequently ordered Richie to postpone dates in Chicago and Columbus. He returned to the stage on 30 June and told fans they had been “worried there for a minute.” He also described spending the previous day hearing plenty of advice from friends about what he should do next, an experience available to almost anyone who admits to being unwell.
How has Richie addressed his health since then?
On 4 July, Richie posted that he was “doing well” and thanked fans for their messages, kind words and support. He praised the crowds at his Pittsburgh and Detroit performances and said he was looking forward to Toronto.
The latest incident suggests dehydration has remained an issue during a demanding summer schedule. St Louis in late August provided an outdoor stage, a long set and a 77-year-old headliner who has been performing professionally for decades. None of that proves what caused the hospital admission, but it explains why doctors would take the symptoms seriously.
Richie has sold more than 125 million albums and won four Grammy Awards, an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. His catalogue includes “Hello,” “Dancing on the Ceiling” and “All Night Long,” songs that continue to anchor his live shows.
For now, the clearest update is that a source close to the tour says he is OK, while confirmation of his discharge remains outstanding. His next scheduled performance is several weeks away, giving him a pause from outdoor finales, electrolyte commentary and the less glamorous side of touring.
