Lionel Richie is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and music icon known for his smooth voice, timeless love songs, and cross-genre appeal.

He was born on June 20, 1949, in Tuskegee, Alabama, and rose to fame in the late 1960s as a member of the funk and soul band The Commodores.

With them, he delivered hits like “Easy,” “Three Times a Lady,” and “Brick House.” In the 1980s, Richie launched a massively successful solo career, becoming one of the era’s best-selling artists

His solo hits include: “Hello,” “All Night Long (All Night),” “Stuck on You,” “Say You, Say Me,” and “Endless Love” (a duet with Diana Ross).

He’s also known for co-writing “We Are the World” with Michael Jackson, a global charity single for famine relief in Africa.

Richie has sold over 100 million records worldwide, won multiple Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and has a Golden Globe.

In 2022, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

More recently, he’s become widely recognized as a judge on American Idol, where he mentors new talent with warmth and wisdom.