Lionel Richie hospitalized after weekend show in latest health concern

Lionel Richie, the renowned singer and songwriter, was hospitalized this past weekend following a performance in St. Louis, according to TMZ. The 77-year-old musician had appeared to lean on a piano for support during a Saturday show at The Muny, and later requested a chair to sit down for his final number, "All Night Long." Richie checked himself into a local hospital after the show for tests, possibly due to slight dehydration.

This is not Richie's first health scare on stage this year; in June, he sat down on stage in Minnesota due to dizziness and postponed shows in Chicago and Columbus, Ohio. In July, he joked about needing electrolytes between songs during a Madison Square Garden performance. Richie is currently on a 26-city "Sing A Song All Night Long" tour with Earth, Wind and Fire.

Known as one of the greatest pop songwriters of the late 20th century, Richie was a member of the Commodores in the 1970s, with hits like "Easy," "Three Times a Lady," and "Brick House." As a solo artist, he enjoyed hits such as "Hello," "My Love," and "Say You, Say Me." Richie also co-wrote the global hit "We Are The World" with Michael Jackson in 1985, raising funds for famine relief in Ethiopia.

He has been a judge on American Idol since 2018 and has earned a total of 33 Grammy nominations, winning four awards, including Album of the Year in 1985 for "Can't Slow Down" and Song of the Year in 1986 for "We Are The World."