Lionel Richie Celebrates 77th Birthday with Career Retrospective

American singer‑songwriter Lionel Richie turned 77 on June 20, 2026. Born in Tuskegee, Alabama, he first pursued a tennis scholarship before discovering a passion for music at Tuskegee Institute, where he co‑founded the group that would become the Commodores. The band gained fame as the Jackson 5’s opening act, forging a lasting friendship with Michael Jackson. With the Commodores Richie co‑wrote hits such as “Easy,” “Three Times a Lady” and “Brick House,” and later helped write the charity anthem “We Are the World.”

Richie launched his solo career in 1982, delivering worldwide chart‑toppers like “Hello,” “All Night Long,” “Say You, Say Me,” and “Stuck on You.” His 1985 album *Can't Slow Down* earned the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, and he later added an Academy Award for the song “Say You, Say Me.” Over five decades he has sold millions of records, received numerous honors—including induction into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame—and remains an influential figure in pop, R&B and country music.

The milestone birthday prompted a look back at his extensive catalog, collaborations with artists such as Kenny Rogers and Shania Twain, and his enduring impact on popular music worldwide.