TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 08: Lionel Richie performs during the "Sing A Song All Night Long" Tour stop at Scotiabank Arena on August 08, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario.
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Artists

Lionel Richie Apologizes for Canceling Concert Last Minute: 'I Tried to Bribe the Pilot'

Monday's show made up for an abrupt cancellation over the weekend.

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American Idol judge Lionel Richie apologized "a thousand times" to the audience on Monday (Aug. 14) at New York City's Madison Square Garden after postponing a show there on Saturday due to weather conditions. That announcement came an hour after the show was supposed to begin.

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"I had two 'no's to come at the same time," Richie said. "And when those two decided it's a no —when God says no and when the pilot says no...

"I tried to bribe the pilot, and the pilot said, 'I do want to see my wife tomorrow'," Richie continued. "So tonight we are going to make up for that. I apologize for that a thousand times."

Richie announced the cancellation on Saturday via

"Due to severe weather and being unable to land in the NY and surrounding areas, I'm unable to make it to the show tonight," he wrote. "I'm so bummed. We are rescheduling the show to [Mon., Aug. 14]. Can't wait to perform for you all. Tickets for tonight's show are valid for the show on Monday."

The rescheduled show was part of Richie's Sing a Song All Night Long Tour with Earth, Wind & Fire.

American Idol will return for its seventh season on ABC —and its 22nd overall— next spring with its panel of judges intact.

Though the network has yet to announce next season's premiere date, it did reveal on July 25 that Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan will return. The trio has sat alongside each other ever since 2018 when ABC revived the series, which previously aired on Fox. The news ended suspense over whether the three would remain on the singing competition series.

The one constant since American Idol debuted in 2002, Ryan Seacrest will once again be your host.

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