What will Richie sing during the GH Tour ?

Interesting thought, and one which I don't disagree with. However, sometimes Richie's song (if 'IBTFY'/'Homebound Train', usually) is considered to be the highlight of a show.

THE highlight of the show? To his fans, maybe. But I've never seen a general review list Richie's song as THE highlight of the show. I still see a lot of people sitting down and taking their potty breaks whenever Richie sings, no matter what he sings. It's just not as bad with BJ songs as it is with his solo material.

Hopefully nothing. It's a Bon Jovi tour, not a Richie solo tour. Let the singer sing.

Wasn't it considered a major highlight for the diehards on the 'Bounce' tour and at the start of 'The Circle' tour with 'Homebound Train', a major highlight given it being a rarity and the band just battering the song?

Probably LYHOM, with an occasional HT, and a very rare IBTFY.
Frankly, I'm the minority here who likes Richie singing LYHOM I think it suits him. I would kill to hear Homebound Train, but I hate the way places empty when Richie sings something unknown. Also, I feel that Richie's version has been somewhat overrated anyway. As for IBTFY, I like Richie's version, but it's played out to me now. Also, keep the solo songs away honestly. I love both SITT and US, but it's a Bon Jovi show. I feel the same way about Jon's solo stuff, with only a slight exception for Blaze (since it's essentially been shoehorned into the band's discography by being on CR and GH.)

I don't remember Richie's singing being considered the highlight of the tour on the Bounce tour. As far as the Circle tour goes, the diehards who appreciate a rarity like Homebound Train are a smidgen of the audience, most of whom would rather hear another hit. And it wasn't a highlight to every diehard for Richie to sing Homebound Train. So when you say it was THE highlight, you're reaching.

for me Nothing can beat Richie singing IBTFY in mannheim 2003 ... if it was not anticipated as the highlight of the show before the show begins it turned into the highlight of the show once the show was over .....I will never forget that performance
To an extend , I would agree with you that Richie singing IBTFY on the BOUNCE tour was a highlight , as the previous tour Richie was not singing. It was a treat for the die hard fans especially in europe ... (I did 25 shows that tour USA , in Canada and europe and I got 25 times IBTFY by Richie. The reaction in Germany was almost unreal and I never thought I had enough of that song )

Wow, I'm quite surprised that people don't want Richie sing a song.

I, on the other hand, think you should do a song and moreover that David and Tico should sing something here and then.

You say it is a Bon Jovi tour so what is Bobby Bandiera doing here? He doesn't play on the albums, he is not a member.. if he can play with them, Richie can sing a song or anyone else.

You're right that the general fans don't care about him singing. In Europe they can't leave because they'd lose their place and if in US arenas people are going for beer, I don't care. I'm a diehard fan and I want him singing!

I'm not sure on your statement about the fact that most people would rather hear another hit. That may be a statement based on experiences during shows in the U.S. where the majority of people seem more interested in hearing their hits (hence U.S. setlists include less rarities and more hits).

Personally, I feel people over here in Europe are more open towards other band members (i.e. Richie) singing songs. During the shows I have attended, Richie's performances were usually very well-recieved by the crowd.
When Richie sang IBTFY in Düsseldorf in 2006, the crowd went nuts and even continued the Ohh-ohh-ohh's once Jon had re-entered the stage. Jon then decided to join the whole stadium in their singing by playing the riff of IBTFY on his accoustic guitar even though it was obvious the song was over by then.

I maintain however, if there is any one song Richie should do during a Bon Jovi show, it should be IBTFY. I actually prefer his version to the one they have been doing in this tour.

That's a contradictory statement, as IBTFY is one of their biggest hits.