Overview
- Richie was hospitalized and underwent an ablation for atrial fibrillation on Sept. 22, his representative said, and the procedure was described as having gone perfectly.
- Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that creates small scars in heart tissue to block faulty electrical signals and help restore a normal rhythm.
- Three upcoming concerts were canceled because of the recovery: Sept. 26 in San Francisco, Sept. 30 in Chicago, and Oct. 2 in Columbus, Ohio.
- This is the third related hospital admission during the current tour, following a June 24 onstage episode in St. Paul and a voluntary multi-day hospital stay in St. Louis in late August for cardiac tests.
- Richie’s team says he will rest before returning to the stage, some Las Vegas residency dates remain on the calendar, and the pause leaves short-term uncertainty for tour plans and his family’s immediate concerns.