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Lionel Richie Pauses Tour After Heart Procedure

Lionel Richie is stepping away from the road for a while after having a heart procedure.

The 77-year-old music legend underwent treatment for atrial fibrillation, his representative told ABC News on Tuesday.

In a statement, the rep said the doctor reported that everything went perfectly. Richie is doing well, the rep added, but he will take some time off and return to the stage soon.

Atrial fibrillation, often called AFib, is the most common form of irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia. The Heart Foundation explains that it occurs when chaotic electrical signals cause the heart's upper chambers, the atria, to twitch or quiver rather than pump correctly. Medication, surgery and lifestyle changes can all be used to treat it.

This is not the first health setback for Richie since he launched a nationwide tour with Earth, Wind & Fire earlier this summer.

The Hello singer postponed two shows after becoming ill on stage during the opening night of the tour in late June.

Then, in late August, Richie admitted himself to a hospital out of what a source close to the tour described to ABC News as an abundance of caution. At the time, no additional information about his condition was provided.

According to his website, Richie has three tour dates still on the schedule for late September and early October, in San Francisco, Columbus and Chicago.

Photo: Cover Media
Source: Muzland
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