Lionel Richie has been forced to postpone two concerts after medical professionals advised the 77-year-old singer to rest following a hospital visit.
The American star was taken ill during a performance at the Grand Casino Arena in St Paul, Minnesota, on Wednesday evening, cutting short the opening night of his summer tour with Earth, Wind & Fire.
Shows scheduled for Chicago on Friday and Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday have now been pushed back, with new dates yet to be confirmed.
The veteran performer, who began feeling unwell partway through his set, was reportedly transported to hospital by ambulance as a precautionary measure after being unable to complete the concert.
The incident occurred approximately one hour into the show | GETTYWitnesses reported that Mr Richie began experiencing difficulties while performing his hit Dancing on the Ceiling, at one point sitting down on a step to continue singing.
He addressed the audience directly about his condition, stating: "When you're feeling dizzy, sit your a** down."
The singer then moved to a grand piano to deliver Three Times a Lady while seated, before announcing an unexpected interval roughly halfway through his performance.
After Mr Richie departed the stage, his band followed approximately 15 minutes later. Some 25 minutes after that, saxophonist Dino Soldo emerged to deliver the disappointing news to the waiting crowd.
Lionel Richie was reportedly transported to hospital by ambulance as a precautionary measure
|GETTY
"Unfortunately, Lionel is not feeling well," Mr Soldo told fans. "He won't be able to continue. Additional information will be available."
A statement released on behalf of the singer confirmed the postponements, reading: "Under advisement by doctors to rest and return to full health, Lionel Richie has postponed his next two shows on Friday, June 26 in Chicago, IL and Saturday, June 27 in Columbus, OH."
The announcement added: "He and Earth, Wind And Fire will return to the stage on Tuesday, June 30 in Pittsburgh, PA."
Mr Richie's team expressed his disappointment at the situation, with the statement noting: "Lionel is heartbroken to postpone these two shows and cannot wait to be back performing for his fans.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
The band remained on stage for approximately 15 minutes after Mr Richie's departure before they too exited | GETTY"We apologise for any inconvenience this causes fans who have tickets for these two shows. Rescheduled dates will be announced soon."
Details regarding potential ticket refunds have not yet been disclosed.
The specific cause of Mr Richie's medical episode has not been revealed by his representatives.
British fans will be hoping for a swift recovery, with the singer scheduled to perform at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk on August 20.
The specific cause of Lionel Richie's medical episode has not been revealed by his representatives
|GETTY
Mr Richie rose to prominence as a member of funk pop group The Commodores, featuring on tracks such as Easy and Three Times a Lady, before launching a hugely successful solo career.
As a solo artist, he has achieved eight top 10 singles in the UK, including the chart-topping Hello, alongside three number one albums.
His catalogue of well-known songs also includes All Night Long (All Night), Dancing on the Ceiling and My Destiny.