Lionel Richie
Singer • Musician
Birth Name: Lionel Brockman Ritchie Jr.
Birth Date: June 20, 1949
Age: 76 years old
Birth Place: Tuskegee, Alabama
Children: Nicole Richie, Sofia Richie
If Lionel Richie had only been the frontman for The Commodores he would have earned a place in music history, but his subsequent solo career made him a superstar in the '80s and beyond. Richie was born in Tuskegee, Alabama on June 20, 1949, where he began playing in bands in the '60s.
In 1968, he and some members of his band The Mystics merged with members of another local band, The Jays, to form The Commodores. Though the band would later become famous for a pop-friendly R&B approach, their early sound was far edgier and funkier. With Richie on vocals, keyboards, and sax, The Commodores released their debut album, Machine Gun, in 1974, scoring a hit with the instrumental title track. By 1976 they were reaching the upper rungs of the Top 40 with hits like "Sweet Love" and "Just To Be Close To You."
But they became bona fide pop stars the following year with the ubiquitous smashes "Easy" and "Brick House." Though Richie wasn't the band's only singer/songwriter, his name became synonymous with The Commodores by the time of hit ballads like 1978's "Three Times a Lady" and 1979's "Still." By the beginning of the '80s he was penning pop hits for others, like Kenny Rogers' "Lady."
A solo career seemed imminent, and after 1981's In the Pocket, he left The Commodores, releasing his hugely successful, self-titled solo album in 1982, featuring the hits "You Are," "Truly," and "My Love." 1983 blockbuster follow-up Can't Slow Down was the biggest album of Richie's career, eventually achieving Diamond status and including No. 1 hits "Hello" and "All Night Long." 1986's Dancing on the Ceiling boasted huge hits too, like the title track and "Say You, Say Me."
Richie's profile dipped with his '90s releases, but he experienced something of a comeback with 2006's Coming Home, his first Gold album in a decade.
And in 2012 he earned his first No. 1 album since the '80s by shifting direction with Tuskegee, a country-flavored album on which he partnered with top country singers on new versions of his classic tunes.
Credits
The Greatest Night in PopStream
Self
Movie
2024
Easy Like Sunday Morning by Lionel Richie Fragrance
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2023
Easy Like Sunday Morning by Lionel Richie Fragrance Premiere
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2023
Happy Hour Deals with Helen
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2023
Happy Hour Birthday Deals With Helen
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2023
The Coronation Concert
Music Performer
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2023
Live with Kelly and MarkStream
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Talk
2023
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
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2023
Hello by Lionel Richie Fragrance Premiere - All On Free Shipping
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2022
Lionel Richie: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
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Special
2022
The 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self
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2021
Kenny Rogers: All In for The Gambler
Music Performer
Special
2021
Kenny Rogers Farewell Concert Celebration: All in for the Gambler
Music Performer
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2021
American Music Awards: The Legends
Music Performer
Show
2021
Country Strong 2020: Countdown to the CMA Awards -- An ABC News Special
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2020
The Drew Barrymore ShowStream
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Talk
2020
CMA Best of Fest
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2020
Biography: Kenny Rogers
Self
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2020
Nikki Fre$hStream
Actor
Reality
2020
Nikki Fre$hStream
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Reality
2020
Lionel Richie at Glastonbury
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2020
Lionel Loves Idol
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2020
Saved by the '80s New Years
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2020
Sandy & Junior: Endless Love
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2019
The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream
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Talk
2019
David Foster: Off the Record
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2019
The Black Godfather
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2019
Lionel Richie: Ordinary Girl
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2019
Lionel Richie: Ordinary Girl
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2019
American Idol: A New Journey Begins
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2019
Lionel Richie Feat. Luciano Pavoratti: The Magic of Love
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2019
David Foster: Off the Record
Self
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2019
Lionel Richie: Truly
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2018
The RookieStream
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Self
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2018
Idol Reboot
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2018
Lionel Loves Idol
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2018
BBMA Top R&B
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2018
American Music Awards 2018: Top 10 Winners of All Time
Music Performer
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2018
The 40th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
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2017
Daily Pop
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2017
Live with Kelly and Ryan
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2017
Live with Kelly and Ryan
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2017
Play Hits - Grandes Vozes 8
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2017
Play Hits - Black In Love 3
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2017
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2017
Music Performer
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2016
The Six O'Clock Show
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2016
The 58th Annual Grammy Awards
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2016
Glastonbury Festival 2015
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2015
Lionel Richie: Star Of Glastonbury
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2015
Lionel Richie
Music Performer
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2015
Lionel Richie: Live at Glastonbury
Music Performer
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2015
Beauty Report with Amy Morrison Celebration
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2015
The Late Late Show With James Corden
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Talk
2015
Bonnaroo Backtracks
Actor
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2015
Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular
Music Performer
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2014
Good Morning Britain
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2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream
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Talk
2014
Nathan East: For the Record
Self
Movie
2014
Maria, Marì: Pavarotti & Friends - For Guatemala and Kosovo
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2012
ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends -- In Concert
Music Performer
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2012
The 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards
Music Performer
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2012
Lionel Richie Tuskegee
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2012
NFL Super Bowl Gospel Celebration
Music Performer
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2012
CBS This Morning
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2012
Lionel Richie Feat. Billy Currington: Just for You
Music Performer
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2012
The 34th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
Music Performer
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2011
The 45th Annual CMA Awards
Music Performer
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2011
Q With Jian Ghomeshi
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2011
Dish NationStream
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Talk
2011
The VoiceStream
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Reality
2011
The VoiceStream
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Reality
2011
Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years
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2011
Love Songs at the BBC: A Valentine's Day Special
Self
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2011
Piers Morgan Tonight
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Talk
2011
Lionel Richie Feat. Shania Twain: Endless Love
Music Performer
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2011
The Talk
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Talk
2010
The Talk
Music Performer
Talk
2010
George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight
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2010
Lorraine
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2010
National Memorial Day Concert (2010)
Music Performer
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2010
On the Red Carpet
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2010
Who Do You Think You Are?Stream
Guest Star
Reality
2010
An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Lionel Richie
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2010
Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream
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Talk
2009
Alan Carr: Chatty Man
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2009
Feel the Beat
Music Performer
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2009
Piers Morgan's Life Stories
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2009
Lionel Richie: Dancing On The Ceiling
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2009
Lionel Richie Feat. Akon: Just Go
Music Performer
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2009
Lionel Richie: Angel (Metro Mix)
Music Performer
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2009
Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest
Music Performer
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2008
Spirit of Christmas
Music Performer
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2008
The Wendy Williams ShowStream
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Talk
2008
Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda
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2007
Private Sessions
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2007
Chelsea Lately
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2007
Lionel Richie: All Night Long (All Night)
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2006
The One Show
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2006
The One Show
Self
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2006
America's Got TalentStream
Music Performer
Reality
2006
The Simple Life: 'Til Death Do Us Part
Self
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2006
Lionel Richie: I Call It Love
Music Performer
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2006
Lionel Richie: Lady (You Bring Me Up)
Music Performer
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2006
Dancing With the StarsStream
Music Performer
Reality
2005
Motown 45
Host
Show
2004
Tavis Smiley
Guest
Talk
2004
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Music Performer
Talk
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream
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Talk
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream
Music Performer
Talk
2003
American IdolStream
Judge
Reality
2003
Lionel Richie: Three Times a Lady
Music Performer
Show
2003
Top GearStream
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Reality
2002
One Life to Live Today
Guest Star
Show
2000
One Life to Live Tuesday
Guest Star
Show
2000
One Life to Live Yesterday
Guest Star
Show
2000
FelicityStream
Guest Star
Series
1998
The View
Guest
Talk
1997
The View
Music Performer
Talk
1997
Access Hollywood
Guest
News
1996
The Preacher's WifeStream
Actor
Britsloe
Movie
1996
Late Show With David Letterman
Guest
Talk
1993
Late Show With David Letterman
Music Performer
Talk
1993
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
Music Performer
Talk
1992
The SimpsonsStream
Guest Voice
Himself
Series
1989
The Oprah Winfrey Show
Music Performer
Talk
1986
Lionel Richie: Running With The Night
Music Performer
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1983
Lionel Richie: Penny Lover
Music Performer
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1983
Lionel Richie: Hello
Music Performer
Show
1983
Entertainment Tonight
Guest
News
1981
Lionel Richie: Easy
Music Performer
Show
1981
Nightline
Guest
News
1980
CBS News Sunday MorningStream
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News
1979
Good Morning America
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News
1975
Good Morning America
Music Performer
News
1975
Saturday Night LiveStream
Music Performer
Series
1975
Parkinson
Guest
Show
1971
Parkinson
Music Performer
Show
1971
One Life to LiveStream
Guest Star
Soap
1968
TodayStream
Guest
News
1952
TodayStream
Music Performer
News
1952
Photos
News aboutLionel Richie
Finale
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Finale
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