Lionel Richie hospitalized for heart treatment procedure

Lionel Richie was hospitalized for a procedure to treat atrial fibrillation during his tour with the group Earth, Wind & Fire. A representative for the musician told the publication Extra that the operation was successful and Richie is feeling well, but he will need time to recover before returning to the stage.

According to TMZ, Richie underwent an ablation, which creates small scars in the heart area to help block incorrect signals that cause atrial fibrillation. Typically, patients can leave the hospital on the same day or the next day after the procedure.

Due to Lionel’s health issues, three upcoming concerts of his tour «Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire: Sing a Song All Night Long» have been canceled, which were scheduled for September 26 in San Francisco, September 30 in Chicago, and October 2 in Columbus, Ohio, TMZ reports. This is already Richie’s third hospitalization in recent months: in August, he spent several days in intensive care in St. Louis due to heart problems, and in June, he was taken to the hospital by ambulance after feeling dizzy during a performance in St. Paul, Minnesota.