Lionel Richie is taking a break from performing following a heart procedure

By: Maria Sherman, The Associated Press Posted:

Advertisement

Advertise with us

NEW YORK (AP) — Lionel Richie is taking a break from touring as he recovers from a heart procedure, a representative for the singer confirmed in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

NEW YORK (AP) — Lionel Richie is taking a break from touring as he recovers from a heart procedure, a representative for the singer confirmed in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Richie underwent a common procedure for atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, and the “doctor said everything went perfectly,” it read. “Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon.”

A-fib is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that is a worrisome stage-setter for blood clots, stroke and heart failure. Some researchers believe more than 10 million Americans have it — most of them older.

Lionel Richie attends The King's Trust Global Gala at Casa Cipriani on Thursday, May 2, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Lionel Richie attends The King's Trust Global Gala at Casa Cipriani on Thursday, May 2, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

The 77-year-old singer also postponed two concerts earlier this year, in June, after falling ill. And in August, reports of Richie checking himself into a hospital after a performance in St. Louis made the rounds online.

Richie was scheduled to perform with Earth, Wind & Fire Saturday in San Francisco, Sept. 30 in Chicago and Oct. 3 in Columbus, Ohio.

According to his website, he is currently scheduled to launch his “King of Hearts” residency shows at Las Vegas’ the Wynn in October and November.

The Oscar and four-time Grammy Award-winning Richie launched his career with The Commodores before becoming a successful solo artist. In addition to his well-known hits like “Hello,” Richie co-wrote the iconic charity single “We Are the World” with Michael Jackson and has sold over 100 million records. He is also a judge on “American Idol.”

Advertisement Advertise With Us

Report Error Submit a Tip

Advertisement

Learn more about Winnipeg Free Press Advertising solutions

More Stories

‘Scared to Snitch’ could take subtler approach

Maureen Scurfield 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I just read the letter from “Scared to Snitch” and have some comments. The mother-in-law who gambles is an adult with a decent income. Nowhere does the letter say her gambling is causing her problems.

If that is the way she wants to spend her time, using her money, and it’s not impacting her life, what about letting it be? She’s an adult making her own decisions.

Options? Have a conversation with her, and ask, “Why those tears at the thought of others knowing?” That may be an opening to explore things more deeply. Why is she fearful?

I’m speaking from experience, having had a loved one deep into the addiction, which caused obvious and big consequences.

Ruth Bonneville / Free Press BIZ - downtown seniors Dave Hall and his partner Barb Remnant enjoy downtown living including checking out jazz or classical music at the Garrick Hotel. Story Dave lives on Langside, just outside downtown Winnipeg. However, he walks through downtown Winnipeg two to four times a week and gave up his car. He’s in favour of all the new development downtown but wishes there was more public housing for seniors and people struggling with addiction. This is for an article on downtown residents’ perspective about living in the area, and the new developments. Photo taken outside the Garrick Hotel, 287 Garry St., a place he’ll go for jazz or classical music. See story by Gabby Sept 21st 2026

Positive anticipation is growing about major housing developments underway in Winnipeg’s downtown

Gabrielle Piché 10 minute read Preview

Positive anticipation is growing about major housing developments underway in Winnipeg’s downtown

Gabrielle Piché 10 minute read Friday, Sep. 25, 2026

If traffic is light and the wind is down, Somia Sadiq is able to hear the roar of Winnipeg Jets fans twice: first through her window, then on TV.

From her apartment view high above downtown, she can look out at Graham Avenue’s painted pedestrian landscape, see construction cranes and hear the heavy equipment at work as massive housing projects take shape at The Forks, at what used to be Portage Place shopping centre and at the former Hudson’s Bay building.

Sadiq has lived at 300 Main for 2 1/2 years, a few steps from the city’s famous, windy and reopened-to-pedestrians Portage Avenue intersection. At 42 storeys, it’s the tallest building in Winnipeg.

She is among 18,000 downtown residents who will soon be joined by thousands of others attracted to the city’s core by the new wave of major construction projects.

Read
Friday, Sep. 25, 2026
Lionel Richie attends The King's Trust Global Gala at Casa Cipriani on Thursday, May 2, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Lionel Richie is taking a break from performing following a heart procedure

Maria Sherman, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Lionel Richie is taking a break from performing following a heart procedure

Maria Sherman, The Associated Press 2 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 23, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — Lionel Richie is taking a break from touring as he recovers from a heart procedure, a representative for the singer confirmed in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Richie underwent a common procedure for atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, and the “doctor said everything went perfectly,” it read. “Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon.”

A-fib is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that is a worrisome stage-setter for blood clots, stroke and heart failure. Some researchers believe more than 10 million Americans have it — most of them older.

The 77-year-old singer also postponed two concerts earlier this year, in June, after falling ill. And in August, reports of Richie checking himself into a hospital after a performance in St. Louis made the rounds online.

Read
Wednesday, Sep. 23, 2026
SUPPLIED Bird’s eye view of the new basketball and pickleball courts at Gordon Bell High School.

Gordon Bell students relish — ‘of all things’ — new pickleball courts

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read Preview

Gordon Bell students relish — ‘of all things’ — new pickleball courts

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read Yesterday at 6:00 AM CDT

Manitoba’s newest public school sports facility is bringing the pickleball craze to an inner-city campus.

Gordon Bell High School unveiled four custom-made courts for the popular paddle sport this fall as part of a multi-faceted makeover.

Grade 12 student Matea Thiessen Unger called the courts “the cherry on top,” of a multi-year construction project that consumed much of her high school career.

“It was happening for so long — it felt like it was never going to end,” the 16-year-old said.

Read
Yesterday at 6:00 AM CDT
Prost! Raise a glass to Oktoberfest

Prost! Raise a glass to Oktoberfest

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Prost! Raise a glass to Oktoberfest

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

As September comes to a close, a pair of local breweries are bringing some serious gemütlichkeit.

For the uninitiated, gemütlichkeit’s a word that doesn’t translate neatly from German to English, but which roughly means friendliness and good cheer.

Both Devil May Care Brewing Co. (155 Fort St.) and Kilter Brewing Co. (450 Rue Deschambault) are hosting Oktoberfest parties this weekend featuring food, music, games and, of course, plenty of beer.

Both breweries are rolling out special releases to coincide with their respective Oktoberfests — expect malty festbiers, marzens, rauchbiers and other German-inspired brews, served up in hefty steins alongside Bavarian-inspired fare. Devil May Care’s festivities run through to Sunday and feature eats by Freebird Kitchen, while Kilter keeps the party going through to Saturday, Oct. 3, and is offering pretzels and Oktoberfest-themed hot dogs. Lederhosen is encouraged.

Read
Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

The never-ending, continuing war in Ethiopia

Gwynne Dyer 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Another October coming up, and still the Nobel Peace Prize Committee refuses to give Donald Trump his prize. They even gave one to Barak Obama, who was Black and a Democrat and had only been in office for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, they ignore a man truly worthy of the prize, a man who ended eight wars last year alone. (He said so himself.)

Unfortunately the prize committee has a long record of backing the wrong person.

They gave it to Aung Sang Suu Kyi of Myanmar, who defended the Rohingya genocide: “I don’t think there is ethnic cleansing going on,” she said.

They gave it to former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger, who ordered the secret carpet-bombing of Cambodia: “The illegal we do immediately; the unconstitutional takes a little longer.”