New York — Lionel Richie is taking a temporary break from his touring schedule as he recovers from a recent heart procedure.
A representative for the 77-year-old singer confirmed that Richie underwent a procedure for atrial fibrillation, commonly known as A-fib. His doctor said the procedure went perfectly, according to the representative’s statement.
“Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon,” the representative said.
The procedure follows two concerts Richie postponed in June after becoming ill. Reports also surfaced in August that the singer had been hospitalized after a performance in St. Louis.
Richie has maintained a demanding performance schedule despite those setbacks. He had been scheduled to perform with Earth, Wind & Fire in San Francisco on Saturday, with additional concerts set for September 30 in Chicago and October 3 in Columbus, Ohio.
He is also scheduled to launch his King of Hearts Las Vegas residency at the Wynn during October and November.
Richie first became widely known as a member of the Commodores before going on to build a successful solo career. His catalog includes “Hello,” and he also co-wrote “We Are the World” with Michael Jackson.
Over the course of his career, Richie has sold more than 100 million records and won an Oscar and four Grammy Awards.
He continues to appear on television as a judge on American Idol.
For now, Richie’s representative says the touring break is temporary, with the singer planning to return to performing after allowing himself time to recover.
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