Lionel Richie says ‘I’m back’ as he returns to the stage after heart procedure

The 77-year-old singer reassured fans about his health while kicking off his Las Vegas residency nearly two months after undergoing treatment for an irregular heartbeat.

Lionel Richie has given fans an encouraging update on his health, returning to the Las Vegas stage nearly two months after undergoing a heart procedure and assuring the audience that he is doing well.

The 77-year-old singer addressed his recovery during his Nov. 11 performance at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas, where he opened his “King of Hearts” residency. Rather than deliver a lengthy account of his medical experience, Richie let his trademark humour do much of the talking.

“I’m back,” he told the crowd, repeating the declaration before adding, “I don’t know where I was, but I’m back.”

He then offered a more direct update, telling concertgoers, “I’m doing just fine. Thank you all so much for caring about me.”

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Richie appeared eager to make the evening memorable. He jokingly announced that the concert would become a personal tribute, telling the audience, “I want to make it a tribute tonight, to me.” He later extended the joke, declaring that the occasion would turn into “a whole week of celebrating Lionel Richie.”

The singer also gave fans a glimpse of how he was managing himself during the performance. After dancing and moving around the stage, he paused to catch his breath and joked that the exertion had gone beyond his “electrolyte capabilities.”

He used the break to tell the audience about his experience with hydration, recalling how he once became dizzy and was advised that he needed electrolytes rather than simply drinking water.

“All these years, drinking water,” Richie joked. “So now I drink electrolytes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and then the doctor told me you need to eat some food.”

His comments brought laughter, but the health update carries particular significance following a difficult stretch for the singer. Richie had experienced health-related interruptions during his summer tour with Earth, Wind & Fire, including postponed performances.

On Sept. 22, his representative confirmed to ABC News that he had undergone a procedure for atrial fibrillation, a condition involving an irregular heartbeat. The representative said in a statement, “The doctor said everything went perfectly. Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon.”

The return to Las Vegas fulfils that promise, although Richie’s onstage reassurance should not be mistaken for a detailed medical assessment of his recovery.