Lionel Richie Age, Height, Girlfriend, Net Worth & Biography

Lionel Richie is 77 years old, stands 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) tall and is in a long-term relationship with Lisa Parigi. The American singer, songwriter and musician, born on 20 June 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama, first found fame with the Commodores before a solo career that produced some of the most recognisable songs of the 1980s.

Quick Facts

Full Name	Lionel Brockman Richie Jr.
Age	77 years old (as of 2026)
Date of Birth	20 June 1949
Birthplace	Tuskegee, Alabama, USA
Nationality	American
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Girlfriend	Lisa Parigi (partner since 2014)
Occupation	Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Television Personality
Known For	The Commodores, “All Night Long”, “Hello”, “Say You, Say Me”, “We Are the World”
Net Worth	Approx. $200 million (Celebrity Net Worth, 2026)
Years Active	1968–present
Instagram	@lionelrichie

Who Is Lionel Richie?

Lionel Richie is an American singer, songwriter and musician whose smooth ballads and exuberant pop hits made him one of the biggest stars of the 1980s. As the lead singer and songwriter of the Commodores, he wrote classics such as “Easy”, “Three Times a Lady” and “Still”, and as a solo artist he followed them with “All Night Long (All Night)”, “Hello” and the Oscar-winning “Say You, Say Me”. He has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for Can’t Slow Down.

Richie’s influence extends beyond his own records. With Michael Jackson, he co-wrote “We Are the World”, the 1985 charity single that united more than 40 stars, including Stevie Wonder and Billy Joel, and raised tens of millions of dollars for famine relief in Africa. Today, he is known to a new generation as a judge on American Idol, a role he has held since 2018, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Early Life & Background

Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. was born on 20 June 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama, and grew up on the campus of the Tuskegee Institute, where his grandfather had worked and his father later served in the US Army. A talented tennis player, he won a scholarship to the Tuskegee Institute, where he studied economics, but music soon took over. In 1968, he joined a group of fellow students who were forming a band called the Commodores, taking the role of saxophonist and, eventually, lead vocalist.

The Commodores signed to Motown Records and became the label’s biggest act of the 1970s after the Jackson 5, touring as the opening act for the Jacksons and later headlining on their own. Richie’s songwriting, especially his romantic ballads, made him the band’s standout star, and his duet with Diana Ross, “Endless Love”, topped the charts for nine weeks in 1981, preparing the ground for a solo career.

Career

Richie launched his solo career in 1982 with a self-titled debut album featuring the hit “Truly”, and his second album, Can’t Slow Down (1983), became one of the best-selling records of the decade. It produced the number ones “All Night Long (All Night)”, which took him to the top of the charts around the world, and “Hello”, whose music video, telling the story of a blind art student, remains one of the most famous of the era. The album won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1985.

His songwriting brought further honours. “Say You, Say Me”, written for the film White Nights, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and in 1985 he co-wrote “We Are the World”, which sold more than 20 million copies and raised tens of millions for African famine relief. He followed those triumphs with the album Dancing on the Ceiling (1986), but after a period away from the spotlight he returned in the 1990s and 2000s with new albums and sold-out tours, including a celebrated 2012 country collaboration, Tuskegee, which topped the Billboard 200.

Richie has remained a fixture of popular culture, joining American Idol as a judge in 2018 alongside Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, and performing at major events including the coronation concert for King Charles III in 2023. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, and his songs continue to be streamed by the hundreds of millions, their melodies instantly recognisable to listeners of every generation.

Facts About Lionel Richie

Richie co-wrote “We Are the World” with Michael Jackson in 1985.
His album Can’t Slow Down won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
“Say You, Say Me” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
He adopted his daughter, television personality Nicole Richie, as a child.
He has been a judge on American Idol since 2018.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Lionel Richie?

Lionel Richie is 77 years old. He was born on 20 June 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama, USA.

How tall is Lionel Richie?

Lionel Richie is 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) tall.

Who is Lionel Richie’s girlfriend?

Lionel Richie has been in a long-term relationship with Lisa Parigi, an entrepreneur, since around 2014.

What is Lionel Richie’s net worth?

Lionel Richie’s net worth is approx. $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth in 2026.

Is Lionel Richie still on American Idol?

Yes. Lionel Richie has been a judge on American Idol since 2018.

How old is Lionel Richie?

Lionel Richie is 77 years old. He was born on 20 June 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama, USA.

How tall is Lionel Richie?