Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of the Motown group Commodores; writing and recording the hit singles "Easy", "Sail On", "Three Times a Lady" and "Still", with the group before his departure. In 1980, he wrote and produced the US Billboard Hot 100 number one single "Lady" for Kenny Rogers.
In 1981, Richie wrote and produced the single "Endless Love", which he recorded as a duet with Diana Ross; it remains among the top 20 bestselling singles of all time, and the biggest career hit for both artists. In 1982, he officially launched his solo career with the album Lionel Richie, which sold over four million copies and spawned the singles "You Are", "My Love", and the number one single "Truly".
Richie's second album, Can't Slow Down (1983), reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart and sold over 20 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time; and spawned the number one singles "All Night Long (All Night)" and "Hello". He then co-wrote the 1985 charity single "We Are the World" with Michael Jackson, which sold over 20 million copies. His third album, Dancing on the Ceiling (1986), spawned the number one single "Say You, Say Me" (from the 1985 film White Nights) and the No. 2 hit title track. From 1986 to 1996, Richie took a break from recording; he has since then released seven studio albums. He has joined the singing competition American Idol to serve as a judge, starting from its sixteenth season (2018 to present).
During his solo career, Richie became one of the most successful balladeers of the 1980s, and has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time. He has won four Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year for "We Are the World", and Album of the Year for Can't Slow Down. "Endless Love" was nominated for an Academy Award; while "Say You, Say Me" won both the Academy Award and the Golden Globe award for Best Original Song. In 2016, Richie received the Songwriters Hall of Fame's highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award. In 2022, he received the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by the Library of Congress; as well as the American Music Awards Icon Award. He was also inducted into Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Richie was born on June 20, 1949, in Tuskegee, Alabama, the son of Lionel Brockman Richie (1915–1990), a U.S. Army systems analyst, and Alberta R. Foster (1917–2001), a teacher and school principal. His grandmother Adelaide Mary Brown was a pianist who played classical music. On March 4, 2011, he appeared on NBC's Who Do You Think You Are?, which found out that his maternal great-grandfather was the national leader of an early Black American fraternal organization. Notably, J. Louis Brown was: [P]rincipal organizer and Supreme Grand Archon of the Knights of Wise Men, a fraternal organization for black men in the post-Civil War period. Formed in Nashville in 1879, it was a fraternal insurance and burial benefit society, as were so many others during the period. ...
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Photos
Movies (55)
High in the Clouds
2027 · Gladstone (voice)
Sock It to Me: The Legend of George Schlatter
2026 · Self
Dolly Parton: An American Original – Special Edition of 20/20
2026 · Self
Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That's the Weight of the World)
2026 · Self
La gran noche del pop
2024 · Self, Producer
Dolly Parton - From Rhinestones to Rock & Roll
2023 · Self
Flora e hijo
2023 · Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Coronation Concert
2023 · Self
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
2023 · Self
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2022 · Self - Inductee
Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl
2022 · Self
Lionel Richie: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song
2022 · Self
Terror en el Estudio 666
2022 · Lionel Richie
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2021 · Self
Kenny Rogers: All in for the Gambler
2021 · Self
The Disney Family Singalong - Volume II
2020 · Self
Concerto di Natale in Vaticano 2019
2019 · Self
Lionel Richie at Glastonbury
2019 · Self
David Foster: Off the Record
2019 · Self
The Black Godfather
2019 · Self
Quincy
2018 · Self
All In For The Gambler: Kenny Rogers Farewell Concert Celebration
2017 · Self
Pavarotti, Birth of a Pop Star
2017 · Self - Singer
Lionel Richie Festival de Viña del Mar
2016
Les Enfants de la Pop 80's
2012 · Self (archive footage)
ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends in Concert
2012 · Self
Lionel Richie at the BBC
2011 · Self
Michael Jackson Memorial
2009 · Self
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
2009 · Self (archive footage)
Lionel Richie: Symphonica in Rosso
2008
Pavarotti The Duets
2008 · Self
Lionel Richie: Live in Paris - His Greatest Hits and More
2007
Kenny Rogers: The Journey
2006 · himself
Live Aid Against All Odds
2005 · Self
Lionel Richie: Collection
2003
Party in the Park
2001 · Self
An Audience with Des O'Connor
2001 · Self
Pavarotti & Friends 99 for Guatemala and Kosovo
1999 · Self
Johnny Hallyday Allume le feu au Stade de France
1999 · Self
June Bride
1998 · Theme Song Performance
Motown 40: The Music Is Forever
1998 · Self
Caído del Cielo
1996 · Britsloe
The Color Purple
1985 · Lyricist
White Nights
1985 · Songs
Live Aid
1985 · Self
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
1985 · Self
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
1983 · Self
Night of 100 Stars
1982 · Self
Endless Love
1981 · Songs
Thank God It's Friday
1978 · Lionel Richie
Scott Joplin
1977 · The Minstrel Singers
Jackie Chan: Down to Earth
· Self
Lionel Richie: The Outrageous Tour Live
· Himself
Love in Vain
· Producer
All Night Long
· Music, Producer
TV shows (70)
American Idol Official Podcast
2026 · Self - Guest
KPOPPED
2025 · Executive Producer, Creator
La historia de Brooke Shields
2023 · Self
The Drew Barrymore Show
2020 · Self
Nikki Fre$h
2020 · Self
Disney por dentro
2020 · Self
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019 · Self
The Rookie
2018 · Lionel Richie
American Idol
2018 · Self - Judge
American Housewife
2016 · Lionel Richie
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014 · Self - Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014 · Self - Guest
Shania Twain: La vida sigue
2011 · Self
Who Do You Think You Are?
2010 · Self
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009 · Self - Guest
Totally Saturday
2009
Backstory
2009 · Self
The One Show
2006 · Self
The X Factor
2004 · Self - Special Guest
Parkinson
2004 · Self - Guest / Performer
Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel
2004 · Self
Best Week Ever
2004
The Simple Life
2003
Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003 · Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003 · Self, Self - Guest
Top Gear
2002 · Self
American Idol
2002 · Self - Guest Judge
CMT Crossroads
2002 · Self
Star Academy
2001 · Self
Where Are They Now?
1999 · Self
TV total
1999 · Self
Ciao Darwin
1998 · Ospite Musicale
Felicity
1998 · Self
Vivement dimanche
1998 · Self
Vivement dimanche prochain
1998 · Self
Parkinson
1998 · Self
Behind the Music
1997 · Self
The View
1997 · Self, Self - Guest
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996 · Self
José Carreras Gala
1995 · Self
Lo + plus
1995 · Self
Extra
1994 · Self - Guest
World Music Awards
1993 · Self
Raw
1993 · Self
Later... with Jools Holland
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992 · Self
ECHO-Verleihung
1992 · Self
Los Simpson
1989 · Lionel Richie (voice)
This Morning
1988 · Self
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988 · Self - Guest
Le monde est à vous
1987 · Self
Sacrée soirée
1987 · Self
Victoires de la musique
1985 · Self
Miami Vice
1984 · Songs
Goldene Kamera
1984 · Self
CMG Spring Festival Gala
1983
Champs-Elysées
1982 · Self
Entertainment Tonight
1981 · Self
Wetten, dass..?
1981 · Self
America's Top 10
1980 · Self
20/20
1978
An Audience with...
1978 · Self
Auf los geht's los
1977 · Self
Saturday Night Live
1975 · Self - Musical Guest
Top of the Pops
1964
Viña del Mar International Song Festival
1963 · Self - Musical Guest
The Grammys
1959 · Self
The Oscars
1953 · Self - Presenter
Today
1952 · Himself - Singer