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Music icon Lionel Richie was recently hospitalized after experiencing health issues during a concert in St. Louis, causing concern among his family and fans.
The 77-year-old American Idol judge had just finished performing at The Muny in Forest Park when he appeared to struggle with breathing and asked for a chair. Before performing the hit song “All Night Long,” he told the audience he was feeling dizzy and took a break, ultimately not returning to the stage. Despite the scare, Richie was able to fly back to Los Angeles the following day and is reported to be in good spirits and recovering well.
A source close to the family revealed that Lionel’s three children-Nicole, 44; Michael, 32; and Sofia, 28-were deeply worried during the incident, fearing for their father’s health. The source added that the roles have somewhat reversed, with the children now taking on a caretaking role and encouraging him to take better care of himself.
“There’s concern about potential heart issues,” the source noted, explaining that his children frequently remind him to prioritize his well-being. Both Nicole and Sofia, despite their busy lives, have been making time to support their dad. According to the insider, his daughters especially want him to slow down, as Lionel has always been a strong, supportive presence in their lives.
Known as the “glue of the family,” Lionel maintains close bonds by hosting regular family gatherings at his Los Angeles home and favorite spots like the Beverly Hills Hotel. Nicole, who was adopted by Richie with his first wife Brenda Harvey, gained fame starring in The Simple Life alongside Paris Hilton. Sofia, a successful model and social media influencer, recently welcomed her second child with husband Elliot Grainge.
Concerns have grown that Lionel’s demanding schedule-balancing a new tour alongside eight seasons on American Idol-may have contributed to his health scare. Even his American Idol co-star Luke Bryan has been checking in, urging Richie to prioritize his health and family over work.
During the concert, Richie revealed he had been dealing with dehydration, which may have contributed to his symptoms. He shared with the crowd, “Some things have been happening on this tour that kind of shook me up a little bit, because I couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on. I went back to the doctor, and he said, ‘You are suffering from dehydration.’”
Reports indicate that Lionel underwent cardiac testing while hospitalized as a precaution. At present, he is recovering and maintaining his characteristic upbeat demeanor under the watchful care of his loved ones.