Lionel Richie abruptly shut down his co-headlining tour opener in Saint Paul on Wednesday night after an undisclosed health incident, walking off stage mid-song and never returning. The 77-year-old had wrapped up a number at around 10:15 p.m., then sat down while performing "Dancing on the Ceiling" before exiting, leaving more than 10,000 fans confused and worried.
According to the Pioneer Press, a member of Richie's band came back out about 35 minutes later and addressed the crowd, saying, "Unfortunately Lionel is not feeling well. We won’t be able to continue with tonight’s show." Richie did not return to finish the set, and Earth, Wind & Fire had already played earlier in the night for just under an hour.
Tour Kickoff And Schedule
Wednesday's show was slated as the opening night of the 26-city "Sing a Song All Night Long" tour, co-headlined by Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire and produced by Live Nation. The tour announcement on Earth, Wind & Fire and ticket listings on Ticketmaster both list the Saint Paul date at Grand Casino Arena as the official kickoff on June 24.
Scene At The Arena
Fans later took to social media to describe a bewildering end to the night as the house lights came up and crews started moving onstage with no clear explanation. A Grand Casino Arena spokesperson had no further comment on the situation Wednesday night, the Pioneer Press reported, and there was no immediate word on whether the Saint Paul date would be rescheduled.
What Fans Should Watch For
Organizers typically post rescheduling or refund details on venue and ticketing sites, so fans are advised to keep an eye on the Grand Casino Arena event page along with the show's Ticketmaster listing for official updates. The Twin Cities PBS event listing notes the arena address as 199 W. Kellogg Blvd in Saint Paul, identified as the venue for the June 24 kickoff, and that remains the key reference point for any refund or reschedule notices.
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