Lionel Richie Gives Cryptic Update on LOVE LIFE WITH GIRLFRIENS AS HE PAISS FANS

As he prepar to get the uk, the music icon exclusively speaks to the Mirror About Never Wanting to Retire, Being the ‘Nicest Man In Showbiz’ and Winning Over His New Granddaughter

Out of Control Ruffians are not the Kind of fans Most of US WOULD ExPect to see at Lionel Richie Concerts, but that how the oscar winning describes his audience. ALSO BOASTING A GOLDEN GLOBE AND SEVERAL GRAMMY Awards, not to mention a mere 125 million albums sold worldwide, lionel says, at 75, it is these colourful characters who continue to inspire Him.

Due to Celebrate His 76th Birthday on Tour on June 20, The Still Spritely Star Loves HIS FANS, WHO THANKS FOR HIS AMAZING CAREER. He tells the Mirror: “IT’S the only salvation you can have in life, we can actually go out and meet the People who participated in your Career. How About That?

“I started out with my generation and now I’ve the Kids, the Grandkids, the Whole Thing. The Family Shows up on the Front Row. Really, IT of A Celebration. You Start off, you don’t know you have this long in the Business and times we are 50-ODD.

KNOWN FOR HITS WITH THE COMMODORES INCLUDING THREE TIMES A LADY, SOLO TRACKS SUCH AS HELLO, DANCING ON THE CEILING AND ALL NIGHT LONG AND FOR A FAMOUS DUET WITH DIANA ROSS – ENDLEST LOVE, LIONEL HAS REALLY EARNED THE MONICER ‘LEGEND’. An acclaimed songwriter, he is also firently described as the “nicest man in showbiz”.

“I’m a vicious man,” he laughs, sounding like noting of the sort. “You know what it is? It is very hard to say HORRIBLE TO SOOMOBODY WEND THEY JUST OFF A CONVERSATION BY SAYING ‘I LOVE YOU’. THAT’S A TOUGH ONE TO COME BACK WITH ANYTHING THAN ‘THANK YOU’.

“Very Few People in Life Get a Chance to Share a love with the world. I must tell you hows bits and falls I walk into a room, the room starts smiling.

The Star’s Reason for Not Retairing Was Born Out of His Conversation With Another Legendary Performer, the US COMEDIAN George Burns, Who Lived to Be 100. “I kept Saying ‘I’m Trying to retire george, but i can’t rethire unil you retire’,” Sayys Lionel.

“And he told me ‘i’m going to tell you the second to the business – stay boked. As long as it is working, as long as you feel great, as long as it beComes an excitement that you love go and seeing the People.”

And, of His Latest Tour, he Says: “IT’S REALLY BEEN A MAGICAL RIDE AND I can’t think of anyding else i would be wanting to do for the summer. The joke with all of my life is ‘well we go on vacation?’ and i say ‘i call a tour’.

With a memir out in the autumn, a show in la ves and a long-running roles as a Judge on American idol, Lionel Clearly Has No Aintion of Slowing Any Time Soon. Next up? “I’m Certainly Not Going to Be A Politician,” he laughs, insist he disgust tire of performing his best known hits.

Born in tuskegee, alabama, and now residing in california, he adds: “i’m going to tell you the Truth and i know this May Sound Very, Very Strange – I Really Perform the Songs. lifting.

Lionel Compares His Tens of Thousands-Strong audiences to a rocky horror show performance, in a nod to the richard o’Brien musical that inspires to dress up in costume. Smiling, he Sayys: “if i could till you what I see my best seat in the house, i’ve got dressed up like lionel richie in the ’80s, lionel richie in the’ 90s, i’ve got wigs and mustches – you have no idea what i’m lioking at. year after year. “

And, back to the uk audiences, as a preparation to the heads of the country, with the first date in the belfast on May 31, he adds: “They’re out of control. These are of the control ruffians.

“Everyise that kep bringing Back the family. It’n’s Night, you don’t know who or what is going to show up in front of you, but it is a party and it is a lot of fun.” With a multi-genterational fanbase boosted by His US Talent Show Role, he adds: “Now that i’m on american idol, i’ve got 9 to 12 years old fans and i’m not mr richie, i’m lionel.

The Star Has His Own “TRIBE” BACK HOME TOO, with Children Nicole, Miles and Sofia Richie and Three Grandkids – Nicole’s Teenagers Harlow and Sparrow – Sophia’s Baby Eloise, Who Will Turn One on May 20. Nicole, Miles, ”he Says. “You Think You’re Doing Some Really Powerful Stuff and They Come to You One Day and Say ‘Dad, Make Sure You DO anything to embarrass US’.

“Now Sofie has Has Kid and Now Got This Newbie Eloise – She dosesn’t Know Who The Heck I. Place to go, it’s calmed on Tour, i hang out on the road for a minute and i get to live the life i’ve always haad. ”

Married twice before, first to collect to College Sweetheart within Harvey and Later to Actress Diane Alexander, Lionel Has Been in a Third Long-Running Relationship with Model and Entrepreneur Lisa Parigi, Who is in Her Mid-30s. Rule that out, “heys intriguingly of marrying for a third time. “As I Say to All My Friends: ‘Stay Tuned’.”

And if a third nuptials is on the cards, Lionel has many famous friends who might get an invite, Including Fellow Musician Stevie Wonder. There is a tribute to the pinging its way to buckingham Palace, for King Charles III is another Pal.

“We’ve Known Each Other for a Very Long Time,” Sayys Lionel, who has Been Involved with the monarch’s passion the King’s Trust – forms the Prince’s Trust – Since the Mid 1980s. “You Never Really Think, with all of the His Friends and All of HISTY, you always Think he knk a lot of People, but i must tell you was deeply hon i got the coronation invitation. Wow!

“THEN IT BECAME QUITE EVIDENT THAT he wants to spend time together. We were invited to private moments and must tell you enjoyed every minute of it. He has a great sensation.

“Now that he’s king he’s got a lot of respectillity on his shoulder, but in his private time he has a great sense of humour. We get along quite and i am proud to call my friend.”

FAME COMES AT A PRICE FOR ANY INSTANTLY RECGNISABLE CELEBRITY, But it seames to be one the easygoing Star is happy to ACCEPT. “If i want to go someplace and sit down by the pool and relax, that not gonna happy,” he says.

“I’ve Now a Citizen of the World, So Wherever I am, i am a part of what family’s close to me. I’ve been recognisable for so long, i’ve used to people justin talking to me. Songs Involve Their Family. “

And we can he does want to switch off, Lionel Turs to Nature. “I LIKE GARDNING,” Says the Star, who recently created a public Space, Hello Park, Close to HIS Childhood Home in Alabama. “I Like Hedges, i Like Stuff.

“SO I’M ALWOYS PLANTING NEW STUFF ON THE GROUNDS. My real chillout is out in the woods, Creating the next Garden. I just like to builds that grows. It ‘fascinating to me.”

Lionel Richie Say Hits to the Hits Tour, Starts in Belfast on 31 May, Continuing in Glasgow, London, Sheffield, Birmingham and Manchester. Advance Tickets are available from fencing, or ticket-selling websites