Lionel Richie takes stage after successful heart procedure: 'I'm back!'
Lionel Richie has returned to the stage after undergoing a heart procedure earlier this year.
The singer, who took some time off from touring in September and underwent a procedure for atrial fibrillation, kicked off his "King of Hearts" residency at Wynn Las Vegas on Wednesday.
In an Instagram video shared by an audience member on Thursday, Richie, 77, is seen onstage at the Nov. 11 show, saying, "I'm back!"
"I don't know where I was, but I'm back," he continues, as the crowd laughs. "I'm doing just fine. Thank you all so much for caring about me."
Richie then says the evening will be "a tribute ... to me."
"I better make a tribute to myself before somebody else has that show down the street," he jokes. "'Come see Lionel Richie down the street!'"
He adds, "This is gonna be a whole week of celebrating Lionel Richie."
Richie has faced a number of health challenges since embarking on a nationwide tour with Earth, Wind & Fire over the summer.
The "Hello" singer postponed two shows after falling ill on stage during the first night of the tour in late June.
Then, in late August, Richie checked himself into a hospital out of an abundance of caution, a source close to the singer's tour told ABC News at the time.
In September, Richie underwent a procedure for atrial fibrillation, according to his representative, who told ABC News in a statement at the time, "The doctor said everything went perfectly. Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, atrial fibrillation, known as AFib, is an irregular heart rhythm that can cause symptoms including fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain.
AFib affects approximately 1 in every 22 Americans and is caused by abnormal electrical signals in the heart, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The illness is often treated by an ablation, a minimally invasive procedure that creates scars in parts of the heart to help maintain a normal heart rhythm. It can also be treated by medication and lifestyle changes, the CDC says.
Richie's "King of Hearts" residency runs from Nov. 11, 2026, to Jan. 9, 2027 at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas.
He will also return for "American Idol" season 25, which airs Monday, Feb. 8, 2027 on ABC.
ABC News has reached out to a representative for Richie for comment.
