Fans went home disappointed after singer-songwriter Lionel Richie ended his 2026 tour opener in St. Paul, Minnesota, after less than an hour, after the American Idol judge was feeling “dizzy” on stage during the concert.
Video surfaced from the tour’s opening show, which took place at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. After performing “Dancing on the Ceiling,” he quipped, “When you’re feeling dizzy, sit your a*s down.” He could be seen taking a seat during the song before getting back up.
BREAKING: Lionel Ritchie concert in St Paul at Grand Casino Arena canceled mid-show. Ritchie sat down on stage during “Dancing on the Ceiling”, said he felt dizzy. Performed one more song at piano, “Three Times a Lady”, then announced unplanned intermission. Did not return. pic.twitter.com/RNalkYHnmG
— Patrick Kessler (@PatKessler) June 25, 2026
He did play one more song, Commodores’ “Three Times a Lady,” before taking an abrupt and unplanned intermission. Richie would not return to the stage.
His band members remained on stage for about 15 minutes, according to People. After nearly 40 minutes, saxophonist Dino Soldo thanked the crowd for their patience but then noted that Richie wasn’t feeling well and the rest of the concert was off. They eventually left the stage as recorded music played over the loudspeakers.
Naturally, some fans were “bummed” about the cancellation. However, a fan told Star Tribune (via People) that she was “grateful” to see him at all, noting that she “wasn’t surprised he had to sit.”
Will Lionel Richie’s 2026 tour continue after he cut the first show short?
Richie hasn’t issued a statement regarding the status of the rest of the tour. So, until told otherwise, it’s safe to assume the rest of the tour is still on.
The concert on June 24 was the first of a joint tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. It is the third leg of the Sing Along All Night Long Tour, which began in 2023.
His next concert is scheduled for Friday, June 26, in Chicago, Illinois. The tour is slated to continue visiting cities around North America until Aug. 14, when this leg ends in Austin, Texas. The tour will make stops at iconic venues like Madison Square Garden in New York City and the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
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