Lionel Richie Has Heart Procedure, Cancels Three Shows

Singer Lionel Richie underwent an atrial fibrillation ablation procedure on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, and canceled three upcoming shows on his joint tour with Earth, Wind & Fire, according to his representative and multiple reports. Richie, 77, was hospitalized for treatment of atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat. The minimally invasive procedure creates tiny scars in the heart to block faulty electrical signals and help restore a normal rhythm. A representative said the doctor reported everything went perfectly and that Richie is doing great, but that the singer will take some time off to recover before returning to the stage. The canceled dates are San Francisco on Saturday, September 26, Chicago on September 30, and Columbus, Ohio, on October 2. Tour dates in Las Vegas from October 14 through November 14 remain confirmed, according to one report, though no official confirmation of those shows has been announced beyond that listing. The procedure marks Richie's third hospitalization in recent months. On June 15, he became dizzy and felt strange during a concert in St. Paul, Minnesota, and paramedics transported him by ambulance after he cut the performance short.