View source for Lionel Richie

{{Short description|American singer (born 1949)}}
{{for|his eponymous album|Lionel Richie (album) {{!}} ''Lionel Richie'' (album)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Lionel Richie
| image              = Lionel Richie 2022 (51930307118) (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Richie in 2022
| birth_name         = Lionel Brockman Richie Jr.
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1949|6|20}}
| birth_place        = [[Tuskegee, Alabama]], U.S.
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Singer
* songwriter
* musician
* record producer
* television personality
}}
| years_active       = 1968–present
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Brenda Harvey|1975|1993|reason=div}}
* {{marriage|Diane Alexander|1995|2004|reason=div}}
}}
| children           = 3, including [[Nicole Richie|Nicole]] and [[Sofia Richie|Sofia]]
| website            = {{URL|lionelrichie.com}}
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| background = solo_singer
| instrument = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* keyboards
* saxophone
}}
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
* [[Soul music|soul]]
* [[funk]]
* [[Pop music|pop]]
}}
| label = {{flatlist|
* [[Island Records|Island]]
* [[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
* [[Allied Artists Music Group|AAMG]]
* [[Motown]]
}}
| past_member_of = [[Commodores]]
}}
}}
'''Lionel Brockman Richie Jr.''' (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and television personality. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of the [[Motown]] group <!-- Do not put "The" in front of Commodores. The band is just "Commodores". -->[[Commodores]]; writing and recording the hit singles "[[Easy (Commodores song)|Easy]]", "[[Sail On (song)|Sail On]]", "[[Three Times a Lady]]", and "[[Still (Commodores song)|Still]]" with the group before his departure. In 1980, he wrote and produced the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] number one single "[[Lady (Kenny Rogers song)|Lady]]" for [[Kenny Rogers]].

In 1981, Richie wrote and produced the single "[[Endless Love (song)|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.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Hot 100 turns 60|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=August 6, 2018}}</ref> In 1982, he officially launched his solo career with the album ''[[Lionel Richie (album)|Lionel Richie]]'', which sold over four million copies and spawned the singles "[[You Are (Lionel Richie song)|You Are]]", "[[My Love (Lionel Richie song)|My Love]]", and the number one single "[[Truly (Lionel Richie song)|Truly]]".

Richie's second album, ''[[Can't Slow Down (Lionel Richie album)|Can't Slow Down]]'' (1983), reached number one on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart and sold over 20 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the [[List of best-selling albums|best-selling albums of all time]]; and spawned the number one singles "[[All Night Long (All Night)]]" and "[[Hello (Lionel Richie song)|Hello]]". He then co-wrote the 1985 charity single "[[We Are the World]]" with [[Michael Jackson]], which sold over 20 million copies.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/28/entertainment/feat-we-are-the-world-30-years-where-are-they-now/ | title='We Are the World' at 30: Where are they now? | publisher=CNN | first=Todd | last=Leopold | date=January 28, 2015 | access-date=January 8, 2017 | archive-date=January 8, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108191834/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/28/entertainment/feat-we-are-the-world-30-years-where-are-they-now/ | url-status=live }}</ref> His third album, ''[[Dancing on the Ceiling]]'' (1986), contained the number one single "[[Say You, Say Me]]" (from the 1985 film ''[[White Nights (1985 film)|White Nights]]'') and the No. 2 hit [[Dancing on the Ceiling (Lionel Richie song)|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 [[American Idol season 16|sixteenth season]] (2018 to present).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Goldberg|first1=Lesley|date=August 5, 2019|title='American Idol' Judges Close Deals to Return for Season 3 on ABC|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/american-idol-judges-close-deals-return-season-3-abc-1229134|access-date=August 5, 2019|website=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-date=August 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805171341/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/american-idol-judges-close-deals-return-season-3-abc-1229134|url-status=live}}</ref>

During his solo career, Richie became one of the most successful balladeers of the 1980s, and has sold over 90&nbsp;million records worldwide, making him one of the [[List of best-selling music artists|world's best-selling artists of all time]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9399479/lionel-richie-musical-all-night-long-disney|title=Lionel Richie Musical 'All Night Long' In the Works From Disney|first=Borys|last=Kit|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=June 10, 2020|access-date=June 10, 2020}}</ref> He has won four [[Grammy Awards]], including [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] for "We Are the World", and [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] for ''Can't Slow Down''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-23|title=Lionel Richie|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/lionel-richie/17291|access-date=2021-12-20|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en|archive-date=December 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220135624/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/lionel-richie/17291|url-status=live}}</ref> "Endless Love" was nominated for an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]; while "Say You, Say Me" won both the Academy Award and the [[Golden Globe]] award for Best Original Song.<ref name="GBA" /> 

In 2016, Richie received the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]]'s highest honor, the [[Johnny Mercer]] Award.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/lionel-richie-chics-nile-rodgers-enter-songwriters-hall/story?id=39752429|title=Lionel Richie, Chic's Nile Rodgers and More Enter Songwriters Hall of Fame|last=Rothman|first=Michael|date=June 10, 2016|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|access-date=January 8, 2017|archive-date=January 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109021501/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/lionel-richie-chics-nile-rodgers-enter-songwriters-hall/story?id=39752429|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, he received the [[Gershwin Prize|Gershwin Prize for Popular Song]] by the [[Library of Congress]];<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ulaby|first=Neda|date=2022-01-13|title=The Gershwin Prize for Popular Song is going to pop star Lionel Richie|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/01/13/1072448995/the-gershwin-prize-for-popular-song-is-going-to-pop-star-lionel-richie|access-date=2022-02-02|archive-date=February 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202154800/https://www.npr.org/2022/01/13/1072448995/the-gershwin-prize-for-popular-song-is-going-to-pop-star-lionel-richie|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the [[American Music Awards Icon Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lionel Richie Says It's 'Surreal' to Receive Icon Award at the 2022 AMAs: 'I'm Immensely Grateful' |url=https://people.com/music/amas-2022-lionel-richie-to-receive-icon-award/ |first=Jack |last=Irvin |date=November 7, 2022 |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=Peoplemag |language=en |archive-date=November 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107200135/https://people.com/music/amas-2022-lionel-richie-to-receive-icon-award/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was also inducted into [[Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame]], and the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 2022.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=May 4, 2022|title=Eminem, Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Lionel Richie Lead Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2022 Class|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/eminem-dolly-parton-duran-duran-lionel-richie-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-2022-1346913/|access-date=May 4, 2022|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Richie was born on June 20, 1949, in [[Tuskegee, Alabama]], the son of Lionel Brockman Richie, a U.S. Army [[systems analyst]], and Alberta R. Foster, a teacher and school principal. His grandmother Adelaide Mary Brown was a pianist who played classical music.<ref name="usmagazine.com" /><ref>Richie, Lionel. ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (American TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'', March 4, 2011.</ref> On March 4, 2011, he appeared on [[NBC]]'s ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (U.S. TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'', which found out that his maternal great-grandfather, J. Louis Brown, was most likely the biological son of federal judge and slaveowner [[Morgan Welles Brown]].<ref name="WhoDoYouThinkYouAre">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp1QRtwWQSM|title=Lionel Richie tracks his great-grandfather from slavery to civil rights activist!|date=August 25, 2023 |publisher=Who Do You Think You Are?}}</ref> He was also the national leader of an early Black American [[fraternal organization]].<ref name="knights">{{Cite web|url = http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2011/03/lionel-ritchie-and-knights-of-wise-men.html|title = Lionel Ritchie and the Knights of Wise Men|date = March 5, 2011|access-date = November 6, 2015|website = Freemasons for Dummies|last = Hodapp|first = Christopher L.|archive-date = October 18, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151018080954/http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2011/03/lionel-ritchie-and-knights-of-wise-men.html|url-status = live}}</ref> Notably, J. Louis Brown was:
{{blockquote|[P]rincipal organizer and Supreme Grand [[Archon]] of the Knights of Wise Men, a fraternal organization for black men in the post-[[American Civil War|Civil War]] period. Formed in [[Nashville]] in 1879, it was a fraternal insurance and [[Burial society|burial benefit society]], as were so many others during the period.<ref name="knights" />}}

Richie grew up on the campus of [[Tuskegee University|Tuskegee Institute]].<ref name= "allmusic">{{cite web| last= Huey| first= Steve| title= Lionel Richie Biography| url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lionel-richie-p5267/biography| website= Allmusic| access-date= March 4, 2011| archive-date= March 14, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110314100525/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lionel-richie-p5267/biography| url-status= live}}</ref> Their family home was given to his grandparents as a gift from [[Booker T. Washington]].<ref name= "usmagazine.com" /> He graduated from [[Joliet Township High School]], East Campus in [[Joliet, Illinois]].<ref name= "Lacher-Feldman">{{cite encyclopedia| first= Jessica | last= Lacher-Feldman | url= http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2614 | title= Lionel Richie | encyclopedia= Encyclopedia of Alabama | date= January 16, 2017 | access-date= February 15, 2018}}</ref> A star tennis player in Joliet,<ref>{{cite web|title= My Life in Pictures: Lionel Richie|first= Joey|last= Bartolomeo|date= June 1, 2009|url= https://people.com/archive/my-life-in-pictures-lionel-richie-vol-71-no-21/|access-date= March 20, 2019|work= People|archive-date= August 3, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200803083428/https://people.com/archive/my-life-in-pictures-lionel-richie-vol-71-no-21/|url-status= live}}</ref> he accepted a tennis scholarship to attend Tuskegee Institute, where he was a member of the marching band, the [https://www.tuskegee.edu/student-life/student-organizations/band Marching Crimson Pipers] ,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Band {{!}} Tuskegee University |url=https://www.tuskegee.edu/student-life/student-organizations/band |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=www.tuskegee.edu}}</ref> and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics with a minor in accounting.<ref name= "Lacher-Feldman"/><ref name="usmagazine.com" />

Richie considered studying divinity to become a priest in the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]], in which he had been baptised, but ultimately decided he was not "priest material" and decided to continue his musical career despite not knowing how to read or write music.<ref name="usmagazine.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/lionel-richie-25-things-you-dont-know-about-me-w202392|title=Lionel Richie Doesn't Know How to Read or Write Music?|website=USMagazine.com|date=April 17, 2016|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-date=October 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019060650/http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/lionel-richie-25-things-you-dont-know-about-me-w202392|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Esquire">{{cite web|last1= Fussman|first1= Cal|title= Lionel Richie: What I've Learned|work= Esquire|url= http://www.esquire.com/features/what-ive-learned/lionel-richie-quotes-0412|date= March 22, 2012|access-date= February 9, 2015|archive-date= November 2, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131102032245/http://www.esquire.com/features/what-ive-learned/lionel-richie-quotes-0412|url-status= live}}</ref> He is a member of [[Kappa Kappa Psi]], a national honor fraternity for band members,<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.kkpsi.org/prominentmembers.asp |title= Prominent Members of Kappa Kappa Psi | website= kkpsi.org |access-date= March 17, 2012 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://archive.today/20110716182330/http://www.kkpsi.org/prominentmembers.asp |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref> and an active life member of [[Alpha Phi Alpha]] fraternity.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://psuchronicles.com/2011/10/05/greek-life-alpha-phi-alpha-fraternity-inc-2/ |title= Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity |work= Psuchronicles.com |date= October 5, 2011 |access-date= March 17, 2012 |archive-date= March 11, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120311215742/http://psuchronicles.com/2011/10/05/greek-life-alpha-phi-alpha-fraternity-inc-2/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

==Career==
===Commodores===
{{Main|Commodores}}
As a student in Tuskegee, Richie formed a succession of [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] groups in the mid-1960s. In 1968, he became a singer and saxophonist with the [[Commodores]]. They signed a recording contract with [[Atlantic Records]] in 1968 for one record before moving on to [[Motown Records]] initially as a support act to [[The Jackson 5]]. The Commodores then became established as a popular soul group. Their first several albums had a danceable, funky sound, as in such tracks as "[[Machine Gun (Commodores album)|Machine Gun]]" and "[[Brick House (song)|Brick House]]". Over time, Richie wrote and sang more romantic, easy-listening ballads such as "[[Easy (Commodores song)|Easy]]", "[[Three Times a Lady]]", "[[Still (Commodores song)|Still]]", and the breakup ballad "[[Sail On (song)|Sail On]]".

In 1974, Richie achieved his first commercial success as a songwriter with "[[Happy People (The Temptations song)|Happy People]]", which he co-wrote with Jeffrey Bowen and Donald Baldwin. Originally intended as a Commodores track, it was recorded by [[The Temptations]], who had their No. 1 R&B with the song. By the late 1970s, Richie had begun to accept songwriting commissions from other artists. He wrote "[[Lady (Kenny Rogers song)|Lady]]" for [[Kenny Rogers]], which hit No. 1 in 1980, and produced Rogers' album ''[[Share Your Love]]'' the following year. Richie and Rogers maintained a strong friendship in later years. Latin jazz composer and [[Salsa music|salsa]] romantica pioneer [[La Palabra (musician)|La Palabra]] enjoyed international success with his cover of "Lady", which was played at Latin dance clubs. Also in 1981, Richie sang the [[Endless Love (song)|title theme song]] for the film ''[[Endless Love (1981 film)|Endless Love]]'', a duet with [[Diana Ross]]. Issued as a single, the song topped the Canada, Brazil, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and US pop music charts, and became one of Motown's biggest hits.

===Solo career===
[[File:Lionel Richie 1984.jpg|thumb|upright|Richie in 1984]]
Richie's 1982 debut solo album, ''[[Lionel Richie (album)|Lionel Richie]]'', contained three hit singles: the U.S. number-one song "[[Truly (Lionel Richie song)|Truly]]", which continued the style of his ballads with the Commodores and launched his career as one of the most successful balladeers of the 1980s, and the top five hits "[[You Are (Lionel Richie song)|You Are]]" and "[[My Love (Lionel Richie song)|My Love]]". The album hit No. 3 on the music charts and sold over 4 million copies.

His 1983 follow-up album, ''[[Can't Slow Down (Lionel Richie album)|Can't Slow Down]]'', sold over twice as many copies and won two [[Grammy Awards]], including [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]], propelling him into the first rank of international superstars. The album contained the number-one hit "[[All Night Long (All Night)|All Night Long]]", a Caribbean-flavored dance number that was promoted by a colorful music video produced by former [[The Monkees|Monkee]] [[Michael Nesmith]]. In 1984, he performed "All Night Long" at the ending ceremony of the [[1984 Summer Olympics|XXIII Olympic Games]] in Los Angeles.

Several more Top 10 hits followed, the most successful of which was the ballad "[[Hello (Lionel Richie song)|Hello]]" (1984), a sentimental love song that showed how far he had moved from his R&B roots. Richie had three more top ten hits in 1984, "[[Stuck on You (Lionel Richie song)|Stuck on You]]" (No. 3), "[[Running with the Night]]" (No. 7) and "[[Penny Lover]]" (No. 8), as well as writing and producing "Missing You" for former labelmate and duet partner Diana Ross (No. 10 Pop, No. 1 R&B). In 1985, he wrote and performed "[[Say You, Say Me]]" for the film ''[[White Nights (1985 film)|White Nights]]''. The song won an [[Academy Award]] and reached No. 1 on the U.S. charts, staying there for four weeks, making it the number-two song of 1986 according to ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s Year-End Hot 100 chart, behind the charity single "[[That's What Friends Are For]]" by [[Dionne Warwick|Dionne]] and Friends. He also collaborated with [[Michael Jackson]] on the charity single "[[We Are the World]]" by [[USA for Africa]], another number-one hit.

In 1986, Richie released ''[[Dancing on the Ceiling]]'', his last widely popular album, which produced a run of five US and UK hits, "[[Say You, Say Me]]" (U.S. No. 1), "[[Dancing on the Ceiling (Lionel Richie song)|Dancing on the Ceiling]]" (U.S. No. 2), "[[Love Will Conquer All]]" (U.S. No. 9), "[[Ballerina Girl]]" (U.S. No. 7), and "[[Se La]]" (U.S. No. 20). He made his return to recording and performing following the release of his first greatest-hits collection, ''[[Back to Front (Lionel Richie album)|Back to Front]]'', in 1992.

Since then, his ever-more-relaxed schedule has kept his recording and live work to a minimum. He broke the silence in 1996 with ''[[Louder Than Words (album)|Louder Than Words]]'', on which he resisted any change of style or the musical fashion-hopping of the past decade, sticking instead with his chosen path of well-crafted [[soul music]], which in the intervening years has become known as [[contemporary R&B]].

Richie's albums in the late 1990s such as ''[[Louder Than Words (album)|Louder Than Words]]'' and ''[[Time (Lionel Richie album)|Time]]'' failed to match the commercial success of his earlier work. Some of his recent albums, such as ''[[Renaissance (Lionel Richie album)|Renaissance]]'' and ''[[Just for You (Lionel Richie album)|Just for You]]'', have returned to his older style and achieved success in Europe but only modest notice in the United States.

===Later career===
[[Image:Lionel Richie and Guy Sebastian.jpg|thumb|Richie and [[Guy Sebastian]] performing "[[All Night Long (All Night)|All Night Long]]" during Richie's 2011 Australian and New Zealand tour]]
Richie was the headliner at a 2006 Fourth of July tribute concert with [[Fantasia Barrino]] at the [[Philadelphia Museum of Art]]. On May 7, 2006, Richie performed on the main stage (Acura Stage) at the [[New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival]], replacing [[Antoine "Fats" Domino]], who had fallen ill. Richie released his eighth studio album titled "[[Coming Home (Lionel Richie album)|Coming Home]]" on September 12, 2006. The first single of the album was "[[I Call It Love]]" and was premiered in July 2006, becoming his biggest hit in the U.S. in ten years. The album was a success for Richie in the United States, peaking at No. 6.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

On May 2, 2008, Richie was the 21st recipient of the ''[[George Gershwin|George]] and [[Ira Gershwin]] [[Lifetime Achievement Award]]'' at [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA]]'s annual [[UCLA Spring Sing|Spring Sing]]. In accepting the award, Richie said: "Forget about surviving 30 some odd years in the music business, Lionel Richie survived 27 years of Nicole Richie."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/electronicplay.aspx?fid=24831&id=E0C5478 |title=Richie accepts Gershwin Award |publisher=Newsroom.UCLA.edu |date=May 2, 2008 |access-date=May 24, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927220036/http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/electronicplay.aspx?fid=24831&id=E0C5478 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 }}</ref>

In May 2009, Richie announced that he would like to get The Commodores back together soon.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268607/lionel-richie-ready-to-go-with-albums-tour-commodores-reunion|title=Lionel Richie Ready to Go With Albums, Tour, Commodores Reunion|last=Graff|first=Gary|date=May 18, 2009|access-date=August 24, 2009|magazine=Billboard }}</ref> An album, ''[[Just Go (album)|Just Go]]'', was released in 2009. On July 7, 2009, Richie performed "Jesus is Love" at [[Michael Jackson memorial service|Michael Jackson's memorial service]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2009/07/07/looking-back-at-michael-jacksons-memorial/|title=Looking back at Michael Jackson's memorial|first=Peter|last=Larsen|date=July 7, 2009|website=Orange County Register|language=en-US|access-date=January 10, 2019|archive-date=January 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104072618/https://www.ocregister.com/2009/07/07/looking-back-at-michael-jacksons-memorial/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Richie returned to Australia in 2011 where he and guest artist [[Guy Sebastian]] toured the country and New Zealand with concert dates throughout March and April.<ref>Paul Cashmere (December 5, 2010), {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20101205214706/http://www.undercover.fm/news/12966-lionel-richie-and-guy-sebastian-to-play-a-day-on-the-green "Lionel Richie and Guy Sebastian To Play A Day On The Green"]}}, ''Undercover''. Retrieved December 5, 2010. .</ref> Richie and Guy Sebastian recorded Richie's 1983 number-one single "[[All Night Long (All Night)|All Night Long]]" together to raise money for Australian floods and New Zealand earthquake relief.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.undercover.fm/news/13867-guy-sebastian-and-lionel-richie-work-all-night-long-for-flood-relief|title=undercover.fm|website=www.undercover.fm|access-date=February 26, 2011|archive-date=April 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403043346/http://www.undercover.fm/news/13867-guy-sebastian-and-lionel-richie-work-all-night-long-for-flood-relief|url-status=usurped}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2020}}

On March 26, 2012, Richie released his tenth studio album, ''[[Tuskegee (album)|Tuskegee]]'', which featured 13 of his hit songs performed as duets with country stars.<ref>Coker, Melissa (March 26, 2012), [http://magazine.angrycountry.com/article.php?story=20120326075146699 "Lionel Richie's Countrified 'Tuskegee' Comes to Stores Today – Slew of TV Spots Join In Celebrating Its Songs"], ''Angry Country''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623132727/http://magazine.angrycountry.com/article.php?story=20120326075146699 |date=June 23, 2012 }}. Retrieved April 11, 2012</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Reinventing Lionel Richie|url=https://americansongwriter.com/reinventing-lionel-richie|magazine=American Songwriter|author= Evan Schlansky|date=March 23, 2012|access-date=April 15, 2021}}</ref> The album returned him to the top of the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, his first number one album there since ''Dancing on the Ceiling'', and achieved platinum status within six weeks of release.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

On June 28, 2015, Richie played to an audience of between 100,000 and 120,000 people at the [[Glastonbury Festival]], England. His show was described as "triumphant" by the [[BBC]] and was followed by his return to the top of the UK albums chart with a reissued compilation album of his work as both a solo artist and with the Commodores.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33400359 | title= Lionel Richie storms album chart | work= BBC News | date= July 5, 2015 | access-date= July 5, 2015 | archive-date= July 5, 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150705093515/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33400359 | url-status= live }}</ref> In September 2017, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] announced that Richie would be a judge for the revival of ''[[American Idol]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/09/29/american-idol-luke-bryan-lionel-richie-judges/|title=Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan to join ''American Idol'' as judges|first=Oliver|last=Gettell|date=September 29, 2017|website=EW.com|access-date=December 3, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929221856/http://ew.com/tv/2017/09/29/american-idol-luke-bryan-lionel-richie-judges/|url-status=live}}</ref> Richie has been a judge on the reboot for seven seasons, including 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lionel Richie -- Judge Biography |url=https://abc.com/shows/american-idol/cast/lionel-richie |website=American Idol |publisher=ABC |access-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205195303/https://abc.com/shows/american-idol/cast/lionel-richie |url-status=live }}</ref>{{update inline|date=May 2023}}

In May 2017, Richie was honored at Berklee College of Music during its 2017 commencement concert when graduating students performed a medley of his discography. Richie was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theboot.com/lucinda-williams-honorary-doctorate-berklee-college-of-music/|title=Lucinda Williams Receives Honorary Doctorate From Berklee|website=The Boot|first=Hannahlee|last=Aller|date=May 18, 2017|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-date=December 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206024432/http://theboot.com/lucinda-williams-honorary-doctorate-berklee-college-of-music/|url-status=live}}</ref> On December 3, 2017, Richie received the Kennedy Center Honors.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kennedy-center-honors-ll-cool-j-gloria-estefan-lionel-richie-8055020/|title=Kennedy Center Honors Recognize LL Cool J, Gloria Estefan & Lionel Richie, Skip Drama|website=billboard.com|publisher=Billboard|last=Olson|first=Cathy Applefeld|date=4 December 2017|access-date=17 September 2022|archive-date=September 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920163857/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kennedy-center-honors-ll-cool-j-gloria-estefan-lionel-richie-8055020/|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2017, it was reported that Richie had secured the rights to produce a [[Curtis Mayfield]] [[Biographical film|biopic]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lionel-richie-to-produce-curtis-mayfield-biopic-121331/|title=Lionel Richie to Produce Curtis Mayfield Biopic|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=October 11, 2017|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=April 6, 2020}}</ref>

On March 25, 2019, Richie announced a 33-date tour across North America for the summer. His 'Hello Tour' started in May at Arlington's KAABOO Festival and ran through August.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://concertfix.com/tours/lionel-richie|title=Lionel Richie Tour Dates & Concert Tickets 2019|website=ConcertFix|language=en|access-date=March 26, 2019|archive-date=March 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326031244/https://concertfix.com/tours/lionel-richie|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2023, Richie was invited to be a headline act at [[Windsor Castle]] for the [[Coronation Concert]], in celebration of the [[Coronation of Charles III and Camilla]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a43601236/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-coronation-concert-at-windsor-castle/ | title=Everything You Need to Know About the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle | date=May 3, 2023 | access-date=May 5, 2023 | archive-date=May 5, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505194355/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a43601236/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-coronation-concert-at-windsor-castle/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Richie is the First Global Ambassador and First Chairman of the Global Ambassador Group for [[the Prince's Trust]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lionelrichie.com/princes-trust/ | title=Prince's Trust | access-date=May 6, 2023 | archive-date=May 6, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506083335/https://lionelrichie.com/princes-trust/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2025, Richie released his memoir, ''Truly''.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lionel-richie/truly/ |title=TRULY {{!}} Kirkus Reviews |language=en}}</ref>

===Popularity in the Arab world===
Richie is a popular musician in various [[Arab states]],<ref name="NPR news">{{cite web|url =https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6576395|title =Lionel Richie: The Key to Peace in the Middle East|publisher =NPR|date =December 4, 2006|access-date =June 12, 2007|archive-date =December 13, 2007|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071213050335/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6576395|url-status =live}}</ref><ref name="Contact Music">{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/richie%20beloved%20in%20iraq_02_06_2006|title=Richie Beloved in Iraq|date=June 2, 2006|access-date=June 12, 2007|archive-date=October 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012170921/http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/richie%20beloved%20in%20iraq_02_06_2006|url-status=live}}</ref> and has performed in Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Libya.<ref name="ABC news">{{cite news
|url =https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=1974794
|author =John Berman
|title =Baghdad's Lionel Richie Obsession
|work =ABC News
|date =May 19, 2006
|access-date =June 12, 2007
|archive-date =February 7, 2007
|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070207133127/http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=1974794
|url-status =live
}}</ref> John Berman for ''[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]'' reported in 2006 that "Grown Iraqi men get misty-eyed by the mere mention of his name. 'I love Lionel Richie,' they say. They can sing an entire Lionel Richie song." Berman wrote that Richie said he was told that Iraqi civilians were playing "All Night Long" the night [[2003 invasion of Iraq|U.S. tanks invaded Baghdad]]. Richie was against the war and has said he would like to perform in [[Baghdad]] someday.<ref name="ABC news" />

==Personal life==
[[File:Lionel Richie 2019.jpg|thumb|Richie performing in 2019]]
On October 18, 1975, Richie married his college sweetheart, Brenda Harvey. In 1983, the couple informally adopted Nicole Camille Escovedo (now [[Nicole Richie]]), the two-year-old daughter of a member of Richie's band, who is also the niece of drummer [[Sheila E]]. The Richies raised Nicole as their daughter and adopted her legally when she was nine years old.<ref>{{Cite web| url= https://www.biography.com/news/nicole-lionel-richie-adoption-story-real-parents| title= Nicole Richie's Surprising Adoption Story| first= Rachel| last= Chang| date= September 21, 2020| website= biography.com| access-date= March 15, 2021| archive-date= April 16, 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210416001224/https://www.biography.com/news/nicole-lionel-richie-adoption-story-real-parents| url-status= live}}</ref>

In June 1988, Harvey was arrested and charged with corporal injury to a spouse, resisting arrest, trespassing, vandalism, battery, and disturbing the peace after she found Richie at Diane Alexander's Beverly Hills apartment.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=July 18, 1988|title=Summertime, and the Loving Is Anything but Easy for Lionel, Melvin and Stephanie| url= https://people.com/archive/summertime-and-the-loving-is-anything-but-easy-for-lionel-melvin-and-stephanie-vol-30-no-3/|first1=Michael |last1=Neill| first2=Angela | last2= Blessing| first3= Tina | last3=Johnson |first4= Dianna | last4= Waggoner| first5= Maria | last5= Wilhelm | first6= Cathy | last6= Nolan| journal=People|volume= 30| issue = 3}}</ref> 

Richie married Diane Alexander on December 21, 1995.{{cn|date=April 2025}} They have a son, Miles Richie, and a daughter, [[Sofia Richie]]. The marriage ended in 2004.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.eonline.com/photos/5534/most-expensive-celeb-divorces/201132| title= Most Expensive Celeb Divorces > Lionel & Diane Richie| publisher= (slideshow) E! Online ([[NBC Universal]])| date= January 7, 2021| access-date= August 14, 2016| archive-date= August 9, 2016| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160809020227/http://www.eonline.com/photos/5534/most-expensive-celeb-divorces/201132| url-status= live}}</ref>

Richie suffered prolonged throat problems and had surgery four times in four years before being told by [[conventional medicine|conventional doctors]] that he could lose his singing career. He then turned to a [[holistic medicine|holistic doctor]] who said the problem was simply [[acid reflux]] caused by foods Richie was eating before going to bed.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/entertainment/LIONEL+RICHIE-23253.html| title=Richie Thrilled With Acid Reflux Diagnosis| date=September 13, 2006| website=femalefirst.co.uk| access-date=June 4, 2020| archive-date=June 4, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604145808/https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/entertainment/LIONEL+RICHIE-23253.html| url-status=live}}</ref>

Richie became a grandfather in 2008 when Nicole Richie gave birth to a baby girl with [[Joel Madden]], lead singer of the rock band [[Good Charlotte]]. Richie's second grandchild was born to the couple in 2009.<ref>{{cite magazine | first=Jessica | last= Herndon |url=https://people.com/parents/lionel-richie-sparrow-looks-just-like-harlow/ |title=Lionel Richie: 'Sparrow Looks Just Like Harlow'|date=September 13, 2009| magazine=People |access-date=April 15, 2021}}</ref>

Richie is a [[Freemasonry|Freemason]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lodge Devotion 723 - Brother Lionel Richie |url=https://www.lodgedevotion.net/devotion-newsletter-content/editorial-educational-articles/some-famous-non-australian-freemasons/brother-lionel-richie |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=lodgedevotion.net |language=en-US |archive-date=November 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113021833/https://www.lodgedevotion.net/devotion-newsletter-content/editorial-educational-articles/some-famous-non-australian-freemasons/brother-lionel-richie |url-status=live }}</ref>

Richie helped to raise over $3.1&nbsp;million for the [[Breast Cancer Research Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Easy like Lionel Richie |date=December 6, 2011 |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/12/easy-like-lionel-richie/ |website=harvard.edu |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=March 20, 2019 |archive-date=December 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201131713/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/12/easy-like-lionel-richie/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Richie told the crowd that his grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 80s, but that she survived and lived until she was 103 years old. He stated that she was his enduring symbol of hope and his reason for becoming a breast cancer activist.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1822-lionel-richie | title=Lionel Richie Charity Work | publisher= | website=LookToTheStars.org | access-date=March 17, 2012 | archive-date=March 18, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318134043/http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1822-lionel-richie | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
{{Main|List of awards received by Lionel Richie}}
Richie has won four [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]s including Song of the Year in 1985 for "[[We Are the World]]" which he co-wrote with [[Michael Jackson]], Album of the Year in 1984 for ''[[Can't Slow Down (Lionel Richie album)|Can't Slow Down]]'', Producer of the Year (Non-Classical) in 1984, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Truly in 1982.<ref name="GA">{{cite web |url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=Lionel&field_nominee_work_value=&year=All&genre=All |title=Lionel Richie : Grammy Awards |publisher=Grammy Awards |access-date=July 24, 2014 |archive-date=July 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728074539/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=Lionel&field_nominee_work_value=&year=All&genre=All |url-status=live }}</ref>

Richie was the first person to receive an [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] [[diamond album]] award.<ref name=RIAA>{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=lionel+richie&ti=can%27t+slow+down&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section |title=Gold & Platinum |publisher=RIAA.com |access-date=December 6, 2018 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803082028/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=lionel+richie&ti=can%27t+slow+down&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section |url-status=live }}</ref>

Richie has been nominated for two [[Golden Globe]] awards and won one. In 1982, he was nominated for Best Original Song for the film ''[[Endless Love (1981 film)|Endless Love]]''. In 1986, he was nominated and won the award for Best Original Song for the song "[[Say You, Say Me]]", featured in the film ''[[White Nights (1985 film)|White Nights]]''.<ref name="GBA">{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/lionel-richie |title=Lionel Richie : Golden Globe Awards |publisher=Golden Globes |access-date=July 24, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006120218/http://www.goldenglobes.com/lionel-richie |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref> This song also won the [[Academy Award]] for Best Original Song.

== Tours ==
=== Headlining ===
* [[Running With the Night Tour]] (1984)
* [[The Outrageous Tour]] (1986–1987)
* In Concert (1998–2001)
* The One World Tour (2004)
* Coming Home Tour (2007)
* Just Go Tour (2009)
* Tuskegee Tour (2012)
* [[All the Hits, All Night Long]] (2013–2016)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.ewn.co.za/2016/03/22/Lionel-Richie-seals-SA-tour-with-a-promise|title=Lionel Richie seals SA tour with a promise|work=Eyewitness News|last=Theletsane|first=Winnie|date=March 22, 2016|access-date=July 2, 2016|archive-date=May 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508112619/http://m.ewn.co.za/2016/03/22/Lionel-Richie-seals-SA-tour-with-a-promise|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[All the Hits Tour (Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey)|All the Hits Tour]] {{small|(with [[Mariah Carey]])}} (2017)
* Hello! Hits Tour (2019)
* Sing a Song All Night Long Tour {{small|(with [[Earth, Wind & Fire]])}} (2023–2024)
* [[Say Hello To The Hits Tour]] (2024–2025)

==Discography==
{{See also|Lionel Richie discography}}

===Solo albums===
* ''[[Lionel Richie (album)|Lionel Richie]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Can't Slow Down (Lionel Richie album)|Can't Slow Down]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Dancing on the Ceiling]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Louder Than Words (album)|Louder Than Words]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Time (Lionel Richie album)|Time]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Renaissance (Lionel Richie album)|Renaissance]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Just for You (Lionel Richie album)|Just for You]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Coming Home (Lionel Richie album)|Coming Home]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Just Go (album)|Just Go]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Tuskegee (album)|Tuskegee]]'' (2012)

===With Commodores===
* ''[[Machine Gun (Commodores album)|Machine Gun]]''  (1974)
* ''[[Caught in the Act (Commodores album)|Caught in the Act]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Movin' On (Commodores album)|Movin' On]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Hot on the Tracks]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Commodores (album)|Commodores]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Natural High (Commodores album)|Natural High]]''  (1978)
* ''[[Midnight Magic (album)|Midnight Magic]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Heroes (Commodores album)|Heroes]]'' (1980)
* ''[[In the Pocket (Commodores album)|In the Pocket]]'' (1981)

==Filmography==
===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2007
| ''[[The Simpsons]]''
| Himself (voice)
| Episode "[[He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs]]"
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (American TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "''Lionel Richie''"
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Sport Relief 2012]]''
| Barman
| Sketch: "''Mo Farah and Misery Bear''"
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Oprah's Master Class]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "''Lionel Richie''"
|-
| 2018–present
| ''[[American Idol]]''
| Himself
| Judge, Season 16–present
|-
| 2019
| ''[[American Housewife]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "''American Idol''"
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "''Match 1''"
|-
|2020
|''[[The Rookie (TV series) | The Rookie]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "''The Overnight''"
|-
|2022
| ''[[Jeopardy!]]''
| Himself
| Contestant; One episode
|-
|}

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Scott Joplin (film)|Scott Joplin]]''
| The Minstrel Singers
| Credited as [[The Commodores]]
|-
| 1978
| ''[[Thank God It's Friday (film)|Thank God It's Friday]]''
| Himself
| with [[The Commodores]]
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Madonna: Truth or Dare]]''
| Himself
| Documentary
|-
| 1996
| ''[[The Preacher's Wife]]''
| Britsloe
| 
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Pariah (1998 film)|Pariah]]''
| Lavender Mob
| 
|-
| 2019
| ''[[The Black Godfather (2019 film)|The Black Godfather]]''
| Himself
| Documentary
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Studio 666]]''
| Himself
|
|-
| 2024
| ''[[The Greatest Night in Pop]]'' 
| Himself 
| Documentary 
|-
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|United States}}
* [[List of best-selling music artists]]
* [[List of highest-certified music artists in the United States]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{allMusic}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* [http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/viewItem.do?ark=21198/zz0002vj87 Image of Tina Turner and Lionel Richie posing with their Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, 1985.] [[Los Angeles Times]] Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections, [[Charles E. Young Research Library]], [[University of California, Los Angeles]].

{{Lionel Richie}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards received by Lionel Richie|Awards for Lionel Richie]]
|list =
{{Academy Award Best Original Song}}
{{American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist}}
{{American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Song}}
{{American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist}}
{{American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Song}}
{{Gershwin Prize}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song}}
{{Grammy Award for Album of the Year}}
{{Grammy Award for Song of the Year}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance}}
{{Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical}}
{{Kennedy Center Honorees 2010s}}
{{MusiCares Person of the Year}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Entertainer of the Year}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Male Artist}}
{{2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Commodores}}
{{UK best-selling albums (by year) 1970–1989}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richie, Lionel}}
[[Category:Lionel Richie| ]]
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American keyboardists]]
[[Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American keyboardists]]
[[Category:21st-century American saxophonists]]
[[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:African-American Episcopalians]]
[[Category:American Episcopalians]]
[[Category:African-American male pianists]]
[[Category:African-American pianists]]
[[Category:African-American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:African-American record producers]]
[[Category:Alpha Phi Alpha members]]
[[Category:American ballad musicians]]
[[Category:American contemporary R&B singers]]
[[Category:American Freemasons]]
[[Category:American male pianists]]
[[Category:American male pop singers]]
[[Category:American male saxophonists]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
[[Category:American people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:American soul keyboardists]]
[[Category:American soul singers]]
[[Category:Auburn University alumni]]
[[Category:Best Original Song Academy Award–winning songwriters]]
[[Category:Commodores members]]
[[Category:Gershwin Prize recipients]]
[[Category:Golden Globe Award–winning musicians]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Island Records artists]]
[[Category:Judges in American reality television series]]
[[Category:Kennedy Center honorees]]
[[Category:Mercury Records artists]]
[[Category:Motown artists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Joliet, Illinois]]
[[Category:People from Tuskegee, Alabama]]
[[Category:Record producers from Alabama]]
[[Category:Record producers from Illinois]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Alabama]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Illinois]]
[[Category:Tuskegee University alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Joliet, Illinois]]