Lionel Richie has been hospitalized for the third time in just four months, forcing the music legend to temporarily step away from his busy touring schedule. The 77-year-old singer was performing with Earth, Wind & Fire when the latest health scare occurred, leading to the cancellation of three concerts in San Francisco, Chicago and Columbus. This time, doctors identified a specific heart condition rather than the dehydration reported during his previous hospitalization.

Richie’s representative confirmed that he underwent a procedure for atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that causes an irregular heartbeat. Doctors performed an AFib ablation, a minimally invasive treatment designed to disrupt abnormal electrical signals in the heart and help restore a regular rhythm. His representative said the procedure went perfectly and that Richie is now taking time to recover before returning to the stage.

The latest incident follows several worrying moments during his summer tour. On August 29 in St. Louis, Richie appeared to struggle near the end of his performance and asked for a chair while singing “All Night Long.” Earlier, during a June 24 concert in Minnesota, he told the audience he felt “dizzy” and “strange” before sitting down and eventually ending the show. Paramedics later took him to a hospital as a precaution.

Richie’s children, Nicole, Miles and Sofia, are reportedly concerned and want their father to slow down following the recent health scares. The singer has faced serious health problems before, including vocal-cord issues in the 1990s that required four surgeries. Despite decades of challenges, Richie has continued performing around the world. For now, fans are hoping the legendary singer gets plenty of rest and makes a full recovery before returning to the spotlight. ❤️