Lionel Richie, Tuskegee 
This surprise smash paired the Eighties balladeer with country stars, taking on Richie's hit-packed catalog: Blake Shelton, twangfully stomping through "You Are," Little Big Town gracing "Deep River Woman" with down-home harmonies. At 63, Richie outsings everyone here – including, amazingly, Willie Nelson.

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Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee is the best-selling album released in 2012 for the first half of the year.

Tuskegee sold approximately 912,000 copies, more than any other album released in 2012, by the year’s mid-year point that ended July 1 and is the halfway point of SoundScan’s tracking year, according to Billboard. It comes in second only to Adele’s 21 for total sales of all albums for the first half of this year.

With sales now topping 934,000, the country duets project has become the music sensation of the year. It claimed the No. 1 spot on the overall Billboard Top 200 albums chart for two consecutive weeks and sat atop the Billboard Country Albums chart for four weeks. It was certified platinum for sales of 1 million in an impressive five weeks.

“What a year!” Richie says. “This album has taken me on an unforgettable journey filled with new friends, new jokes and new musical inspirations.  I am overwhelmed and humbled by the success of Tuskegee and am thrilled by how it has been embraced by music lovers of all ages and backgrounds around the world.”

He will perform on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday, July 17. On Wednesday, July 18, he will appear on the E! Network’s Chelsea Lately.

Tuskegee was released on March 26 and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the country albums chart. It was his best sales week since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.

Tuskegee has become an immediate worldwide hit, debuting at No. 1 on Canada’s Top Albums chart and reaching the Top 20 albums charts in 10 countries. It hit the Top 10 albums charts in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Holland, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Sweden. This is his first No. 1 album in Canada in the SoundScan era and his first No. 1 album in Canada since his sophomore solo album, Can’t Slow Down, in 1983.

The album features duets of 13 of his timeless hits with Jason Aldean, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Shania Twain.

It is the exciting new chapter in a storied career that includes album sales of more than 100 million, 22 Top 10 hits, five Grammys, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a host of other awards.  

He is currently performing shows throughout the United States, including July 28 at Detroit’s Comerica Park, and will embark on a European tour in the fall.

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Lionel Richie is voted as Best Comeback at Billboard's 2012 Mid-Year Music Awards: 

"-veteran artists like Lionel Richie and Bruce Springsteen, who were bestowed with Best Comeback and Best Tour honors". -Billboard

Best Comeback: ?
1. Lionel Richie (34%) ?
2. Boy Bands (26%) ?
3. The Beach Boys (18%)

Read more at Billboard.com 

» www.billboard.com

Through the sales week that ended on July 1, the half-way point of SoundScan's tracking year, "21" is the only album that has sold more that 1 million copies this year. The next biggest selling album is Lionel Richie's "Tuskegee," which has moved 912,000.

Read more at Billboard.com 

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MANCHESTER, TN – Lionel Richie made a surprise appearance at the 11^th annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on Sunday when he joined good friend Kenny Rogers onstage in a duet of “Lady” and took center stage to perform his international hit “All Night Long.”

The Richie-Rogers duet of “Lady” is featured on Richie’s platinum-selling Mercury Nashville album Tuskegee, which is the best-selling album released in 2012 in all genres. It is the year’s

overall second-best-selling album of all genres, behind Adele’s 21.  The country duets album held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 for two consecutive weeks.

“Lady,” which was written and produced by Richie, was released in 1980 and became one of the biggest hits of Rogers’ career, charting on all four of Billboard’s charts ---Hot Country Singles, Hot 100, Adult Contemporary and Hot Soul Singles – and hitting No. 1 on three of them. “Lady” is ranked No. 47 on Billboard’s Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs.

(Photo: Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers backstage at Bonnaroo after performing together.) 

"It was everything I hoped for," Rogers said of the show. "I loved the reveal (of Richie). I started singing it, then, for him to come out was wonderful."

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Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee has been certified platinum for reaching sales of 1 million, a feat accomplished in an impressive five weeks.

“This album continues to amaze me and I am so grateful for all that it has accomplished,” Richie says. “Just when I think it couldn’t get any bigger, Tuskegee reaches a new level of success. When I came up with the idea for Tuskegee, I didn’t want to be confined by boundaries of age, genre or demographics.  I am thrilled with how well this album has been received by people from all walks of life. It is truly living up to the vision we had when we created it.”

The country duets album, which held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 for two consecutive weeks, sits at No. 1 on the BillboardCountry Albums chart for the fourth week since its March 26 release.

Tuskegee is the best-selling country album of 2012 and the first country album in more than a year to spend two consecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200.  It is the exciting new chapter in a storied career that includes album sales of more than 100 million, 22 Top 10 hits, five Grammys, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a host of other awards.  

While this is certainly not the first time Richie has topped the Billboard 200, this is his first No. 1 album on the country albums chart. He joins Ray Charles as the only artists in history to have No. 1 albums on both the Billboard Country Albums and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.

This is the album’s fifth consecutive week in the Top 5 of the Billboard Top 200. The album was released on March 26 and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the country albums chart. It was his best sales week since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.

Tuskegee has become an immediate worldwide hit, debuting at No. 1 on Canada’s Top Albums chart and reaching the Top 20 albums charts in 10 countries. It hit the Top 10 albums charts in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Holland, Australia, Hong Kong and Sweden. This is his first No. 1 album in Canada in the SoundScan era and his first No. 1 album in Canada since his sophomore solo album, Can’t Slow Down, in 1983. 

The album features duets of 13 of his timeless hits with Jason Aldean, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Shania Twain.

The in-studio video of 'Just For You' is available on YouTube and VEVO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                      

April 25, 2012

Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee Remains at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 for Second Consecutive Week

Album Spends Third Week Atop the Country Albums Chart 

NASHVILLE, TN—Lionel Richie has the best-selling album in the nation for the second consecutive week with Tuskegee, his country duets project that has once again claimed the No. 1 spot on the overall Billboard Top 200 albums chart. Tuskegee also sits at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart for the third week.

With the week’s sales of 114,110, Tuskegee is the best-selling country album of 2012. It is the first country album in more than a year to spend two consecutive weeks atop the Billboard200. The album’s total sales are 536,967.

“I am excited, overwhelmed, and most importantly, very grateful,” Richie says. “Making this album has been one of the best times I’ve ever had in the studio, so that in and of itself was my wonderful reward. The fact that Tuskegee is being so well received is just icing on the cake. What makes this even sweeter is that I’m sharing this success with my 13 talented friends who gave so generously of themselves to make Tuskegee the album that it is.

“I continue to thank my duet partners, to whom I will remain eternally grateful.  Of course, none of this would have been possible without the support of my fans, who continue to inspire me on a daily basis.”

Richie’s time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart began thirty years to the week that he became a member of the Country Music Association in 1982. While this is certainly not the first time Richie has topped the Billboard 200, this is his first No. 1 album on the country albums chart.

He joins Ray Charles as the only artists in history to have No. 1 albums on both the Billboard Country Albums and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.

This is the album’s fourth consecutive week in the Top 5 of the Billboard Top 200. The album was released on March 26 and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 198,892, becoming the best-selling debut by any country artist this year. It debuted at No. 1 on the country albums chart and was his best sales week since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.

Tuskegee has become an immediate worldwide hit, debuting at No. 1 on Canada’s Top Albums chart and reaching the Top 20 albums charts in 10 countries. It hit the Top 10 albums charts in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Holland, Australia, Hong Kong and Sweden. This is his first No. 1 album in Canada in the SoundScan era and his first No. 1 album in Canada since his sophomore solo album, Can’t Slow Down, in 1983.

Richie is currently in Germany, where he is performing songs from the album on several television shows. 

The album features duets of 13 of his timeless hits with Jason Aldean, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Shania Twain. 

Tuskegee is the exciting new chapter in a storied career that includes album sales of more than 100 million, 22 Top 10 hits, five Grammys, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a host of other awards.

Richie will be inducted into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame on June 4. He serves as a mentor on the new ABC summer show Duets.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      April 18, 2012 

Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee Hits No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart 

Album Spends Second Week Atop the Billboard Country Albums Chart

NASHVILLE, TN—Lionel Richie has the best-selling album in the nation this week with Tuskegee, his country duets project that has claimed the No. 1 spot on the overall Billboard Top 200 albums chart. Tuskegee also sits at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart for the second week.

With the week’s sales of 128,553, Tuskegee is now the best-selling country album of 2012. With overall sales of 422,856, the album is quickly approaching the 500,000 in sales required for a gold certification.

This is the album’s third consecutive week in the Top 5 of the Billboard Top 200. The album was released on March 26 and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 198,892, becoming the best-selling debut by any country artist this year. It debuted at No. 1 on the country albums chart and was his best sales week since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.

“I love the feeling!” Richie says. “You cannot beat the feeling of sitting on top of the charts. I had almost forgotten what it feels like, but now that I am there, I know exactly what it feels like. It feels great! It is really a very exciting time and I am enjoying the ride.”

Richie is quick to thank the 13 duet partners who graciously joined him on this album.

“With a record like this, you can’t take the bow alone,” he says. “You take it with the wonderful talent that came onboard and believed in this project. It is just amazing to have all of the very talented artists, producers and musicians who participated in this. This was one big family reunion, as far as I am concerned. We take the bow together because it was an outstanding group effort.

“I would also like to thank my spectacular Mercury Nashville staff. They are the ones who took my hand and led me in the front door. I couldn’t have done this without the patience and diligence of Mercury Nashville.”

But most importantly, Richie thanks the fans. “They are the ones who made this possible,” he says. “This unbelievable result could not have happened without them. They are the ones who have stuck around forever with me. For the new ones and the old ones, it’s great to have them onboard.

“To the fans, thank you for allowing me to enjoy what I do for all of these years, and for enjoying what I do. I thank you for being a part of my story."

On Friday, April 13, CBS aired ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends—In Concert, which served as a tribute to Richie’s influential career. The show featured performances by Richie, Jason Aldean, Marc Anthony, The Band Perry, Big & Rich, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker and Blake Shelton.

“The success of this project speaks to the impact that this beloved icon has had on pop culture not only in America, but around the world,” says Ken Robold, executive vice president and general manager of Universal Music Group Nashville.  “With timeless songs performed with incredibly talented duet partners, Tuskegee has reminded us once again of the immeasurable talents of Lionel Richie, both as a singer and a songwriter. We couldn’t be happier for his return to the pinnacle and we are honored to be a part of this album.”

Tuskegee has become an immediate worldwide hit, debuting at No. 1 on Canada’s Top Albums chart and reaching the Top 10 albums charts in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Holland and Sweden. This is his first No. 1 album in Canada in the SoundScan era and his first No. 1 album in Canada since his sophomore solo album, Can’t Slow Down, in 1983. 

Tuskegee is the exciting new chapter in a storied career in which he has repeatedly defied boundaries and broken through barriers. Tuskegee fits in seamlessly with his timeless body of work that touches people of all faiths, ages and demographics across the world. 

The album features duets of 13 of his timeless hits with Jason Aldean, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Shania Twain. The deluxe edition of the album contains a DVD featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the recording sessions with Richie and his duet partners.

The success of Tuskegee is a career highlight for Richie, who has earned album sales of more than 100 million, 22 Top 10 hits, five Grammys, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe and a host of other awards.

Richie will be inducted into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame on June 4. He serves as a mentor on the new ABC summer show Duets.

“Lionel Richie has been a force in the music business for more than four decades and is still going strong today, a remarkable feat that grows increasingly rare each year,” said Jim Donio, President of NARM. “Like the music industry itself, he has shown remarkable resilience in the face of countless challenges, and has maintained his artistic integrity and relevance through it all. We are thrilled to present him with the Music Biz 2012 Chairman’s Award.”

Check out MusicRow.Com to continue reading

An insightful e-mail came in last week (to askbb@billboard.com) from avid chart-watcher Garrett Godbey of Tampa, Fla.
 
Godbey wrote, "With Lionel Richie debuting at No. 1 with Tuskegee on Top Country Albums, he's earned No. 1s on the Top Country Albums and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. In the history of Billboard, how many other artists have accomplished this feat during their careers?"
 
The answer?
 
First, a recap of Richie's No. 1s on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. His self-titled first solo set spent a week at the summit (Nov. 27, 1982). Follow-up Can't Slow Down led for 23 weeks in 1983-84 - the fourth-longest reign since the chart premiered the week of Jan. 30, 1965.
 
Richie also made four trips to the top of Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums as a member of the Commodores. The group, from Tuskegee, Ala. (ah, that explains it …), ruled with Hot on the Tracks (six weeks, 1976), Commodores (eight, 1977), Natural High (eight, 1978) and Midnight Magic (three, 1979) before Richie's departure to go solo in 1982.

Lionel Richie Lights Up SXSW at Billboard Showcase

Tuskegee does not appear on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums due to its country arrangements and guests, including Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton and Shania Twain, all of whom duet with Richie on several of his beloved R&B hits.
 
Tuskegee is, however, Richie's first No. 1 on Top Country Albums. He appeared on the chart once before, with Can't Slow Down, which reached No. 55.
 
Getting to Godbey's question: how many artists have topped both surveys? Richie has become just the second artist to have reached No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Country Albums.
 
The first? Ray Charles.
 
Perhaps surprisingly, given his status as a cornerstone in the progression of soul music, Charles tallied only one No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: 1966's Crying Time.

For the full article, check out Billboard.com

The New York Times reviewed Lionel Richie's latest album, "Tuskegee."

There are many reasons for the air of inevitability around “Tuskegee,” the sleek, sure-footed new country duets album by Lionel Richie. Start with the mainstreaming of country music, with Nashville’s embrace of soft rock and soaring pop. Then take the demographics: Mr. Richie is 62, with a multigenerational fan base and a durable catalog of hits. Consider too that the all-star duets album is a proven route to career rehabilitation, and that country listeners make up a big chunk of the public that still buys albums.

You could take all of the above into account and begin to see how natural it is that Mr. Richie opened at No. 2 on the pop charts, behind another confoundingly well-preserved agent of reinvention, Madonna. But then you’d be leaving out the influence of reality singing competitions, with their endless reframing of songs across genre lines. If you’ve been watching “The Voice” this season, you’ve seen Mr. Richie pull a shift as a mentor; you’ve also seen Blake Shelton, one of the show’s judges, dispense big-brotherly advice.

Mr. Richie, born and reared in Tuskegee, Ala., has said that making this album felt like coming home. That’s a nod to his Southern roots, but it might just as well refer to the crossover fluidity of a song like “Lady,” the smash he wrote for Kenny Rogers more than 30 years ago. That song arrives near the album’s close, before an amiable “Easy” with Willie Nelson and an obvious “All Night Long” with Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band. It’s the old-timer’s corner, and Mr. Richie seems happy there, though he clearly has other designs

For The New York Times' full review, check out NYTimes.Com

Tuskegee, a collection of 13 of his beloved international hits performed as duets with today’s country stars, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200, behind Madonna. This is his best sales week since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991, according to Billboard. His last appearance in the Top Two was in October 1986, when Dancing on the Ceiling held the No. 1 spot for two weeks.

“I am ecstatic!” Richie says. “These songs are like my children, so I am overwhelmed that they are being embraced by several generations of music lovers. I am so grateful to all of my duet partners for bringing their own distinctive styles and personalities to this album and interpreting these songs in fresh new ways.

“I haven’t had this much fun in the studio since the Commodores. I will treasure the memories of working with these country stars for the rest of my life. I’ve made so many brand-new old friends from this album.

“I have loved my time in Nashville and can’t wait to spend more time there writing songs and collaborating in the studio. It inspires me creatively and being there just makes my heart feel good.”

Luke Lewis, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville, says, “It is gratifying to see consumers react this way to a collection of timeless songs, great performances and an outstanding marketing effort by the UMG team.”

Tuskegee has become an immediate worldwide hit, debuting at No. 1 on Canada’s Top Albums chart and reaching the Top 10 album charts in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Holland and Sweden. This is his first No. 1 album in Canada in the SoundScan era and his first No. 1 album in Canada since his sophomore solo album, Can’t Slow Down, in 1983.

“What makes this so special is that I am able to experience all of this with my children,” he says. “They are too young to know about the Commodores or anything that I did in the eighties. They just know me as the dad who drives them to school. I’m glad they finally get to see what I do for a living!

“It’s also special because I can share this with my Tuskegee family. Keep in mind that these were the folks who encouraged me when the rest of the world had never heard of Lionel Richie or the Commodores. I discovered that I was a songwriter in Tuskegee, Alabama, and this is where I wrote all of these songs. The roots of my writing, my storytelling, are from the South. I am thrilled that the city and the people that made me who I am today are being honored by the warm embrace this album has received. How fortunate I have been to discover that you can go home again.”

Tuskegee has been an extremely satisfying full-circle moment for Richie, who has earned album sales of more than 100 million, 22 Top 10s, five Grammys, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, and a host of other awards.

His duet partners on Tuskegee are Jason Aldean, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Shania Twain. The deluxe edition of the album contains a DVD featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the recording sessions with Richie and his duet partners.

He will perform “Just For You” with Billy Currington on Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight and on CBS’ The Talk on Thursday.

CBS will air ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends-- In Concert on Friday, April 13 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. The show serves as a tribute to Richie’s influential career and features solo performances by Richie as well as duets with Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker and Blake Shelton. It also includes performances of his songs by Jason Aldean, Marc Anthony, Sara Evans, The Band Perry, Martina McBride, Big & Rich, Luke Bryan, Sara Evans, Lady Antebellum.

He will be inducted into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame on June 4. He will join Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles and Robin Thicke as mentors on the new ABC summer show, Duets.

Lionel Richie Appears on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight 

His New Album, Tuskegee, Poised to Debut at No. 1 on Country Albums Chart

NASHVILLE, TN – International music icon Lionel Richie sat down with CNN’s Piers Morgan on Wednesday night in Los Angeles for a wide-ranging interview that was filled with laughter and wonderful stories.

Morgan asked Richie about his new album Tuskegee, which will debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart next week and has already hit No. 1 on the Canadian Nielsen SoundScan Top Album Chart. The album was released on Monday and has reached No. 1 on iTunes and Amazon album charts.

Tuskegee, which features 13 of his timeless hits performed as duets with country stars, is expected to reach No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200 chart, behind Madonna. The album is available in United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Europe and Australia, and was released to the rest of the world on Monday.

During Wednesday’s interview, Morgan asked Richie if he was truly as sensitive, romantic and loving as he appears.

“I am a hopeless romantic,” Richie says, noting that he was diagnosed as being “overly sensitive” when he was a child. “My mother was crying, ‘Oh my God, what are we going to do about this overly sensitive kid?’ So I would have made a terrible lawyer.  But then once I started writing these songs, it automatically made sense to me….”

That sensitivity, as well as his uncanny ability to capture emotions in his songs with a brilliant simplicity, has helped him become one of the best-selling artists of all genres. His album sales have topped 100 million and he’s earned 22 Top 10s, five Grammys, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, and a host of other awards.

He will be honored for his artistry and accomplishments on Monday, when the Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions will tape an all-star concert special, ACM PRESENTS: Lionel Richie and Friends--In Concert, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The show will air on CBS on April 13 at 9 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. CT. Some of his greatest hits will be performed by Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers and many more.

On Tuesday, April 2, he will perform on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Billy Currington will join Lionel on the duet of “Just For You” for ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on April 4 and on The Talk on CBS on April 5.

On Tuskegee, Richie returns to his Southern roots to pay tribute to his hometown of Tuskegee, Alabama, where he was indelibly shaped as a man and a musician. His duet partners on Tuskegee include Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington and Little Big Town.

On this worldwide, multi-genre album, Richie is also joined by the likes of such superstars as Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffett.

The deluxe edition of the album contains a DVD featuring exclusive behind-the-senes footage of the recording sessions with Richie and his duet partners.

Photographer Credit: Dirk Vanoucek

Buffalo News features Lionel Richie in their Music Disc Reviews:

Here’s a cure for the blues: Lionel Richie and Jimmy Buffett, together, warbling Richie’s old party hit “All Night Long.”

“Man, we should have been together a long time ago,” Richie exclaims.

Amen to that!

That duet is just one delight on “Tuskegee,” Richie’s toast to country music, on CD and DVD. Critics have been cynical, pointing out that there’s nothing like a crossover album to resuscitate a career. But the lowdown truth is, this disc is a lot of fun.

Richie’s old hits have good melodies, good hooks. They hold up well, which is more than can be said of a lot of songs that were once everywhere. The gentle twists and turns of “Hello,” the bouncy good humor of “All Night Long” — these songs are lovable, and singable.

Richie knows enough not to mess with them too much.

Handsome and laid-back, a cross around his neck, Richie interacts irresistibly with his guests, encouraging them, hugging them, complimenting them. There’s tremendous footage of them hanging out in the studio, in huge headphones.

In the case of Shania Twain ( “Endless Love”) the studio is a hotel room, with two big double beds. Richie clowns and tussles with the tousled, impeccably made-up Shania.

“I don’t know, it’s a . . . it’s a . . . iconic song,” she stammers. “You’re an icon . . .”

Shut up and sing! But her flakiness seems genuine, which might be bad news for her, but is good news for us, because it makes it charming.

Richie must think so, too.

“Just keep singin’!” he tells her. “Did you see how you left Lionel Richie sitting there?”

It’s instructive to see Richie get his co-stars in the groove, coax what he wants out of them. They inspire him, too.

You have to love it when Jimmy Buffett tells him: “You are always welcome to Margaritaville.”

Can we go along for the ride?

For the full article, check out BuffaloNews.Com

Yahoo Entertainment interviewed Lionel Richie about his new album, "Tuskegee"

Tuskegee," which hit record stores on Monday, features Richie and 13 country stars singing some top hits of his heyday in the 1980s, including "Hello," "Stuck On You" and "All Night Long."Going country may seem out of place for the pop and R&B singer who gained stardom in the 1970s with the funk and soul group The Commodores, perfecting his brand of romantic ballads then embarking on a major solo career.

But the Alabama native is no stranger to country music, and several of his mega hits have been covered with a twang. The late Conway Twitty recorded Richie's "Three Times a Lady" and Kenny Rogers scored a hit with the Richie-penned "Lady."

"I've always felt right at home in country because I was raised just down the road from Nashville in Tuskegee, Alabama, where I was immersed in country, R&B, gospel and classical music," Richie said.

He said recording his old favorites with country stars proved to be a surreal experience as he came to realize how many artists knew, and liked, his music. Some of those singers offered reinterpretations of his songs and many pushed him hard to perform at his peak level in the studio, Richie said.

To read more about the success of "Tuskegee" and Lionel's recording process, go to Yahoo.com

The Mercury Nashville Duo Unveils Song on Jimmy Kimmel Live on April 4 and The Talk on April 5

 Lionel Richie selected Mercury Nashville label mate Billy Currington as the voice to help him introduce the song “Just For You” to the United States.

They will debut the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live on April 4 and The Talk on April 5. The song is included on Richie’s album Tuskegee, which was released on Monday, March 26, and has already reached No.1 on the iTunes and Amazon.com album charts.

As soon as Richie heard Currington’s rough-and-sultry soulful country voice, he immediately knew what song he wanted the Georgia singer to record on his new album that contains 13 of his timeless hits performed as duets with country stars.

“I tried finding a song that I thought fit Billy,” Richie says. “It was the wrong song. When finally I heard his voice. I heard that growl and I said, ‘Stop! I have another song for him.’ ‘Just For You’ is the perfect song for Billy. When you hear it, it’s unbelievable.

“That song was a massive hit in Europe that we’re now bringing to America.  I’m so happy to be able to let him present that song to America.”

Currington says, "Working with Lionel in the studio and recording ‘Just For You’ – which is an amazing song – was so much fun and truly an honor. As everyone knows Lionel is extremely talented and I can’t wait to perform live with him on these shows.”

Tuskegee is an exciting new chapter in a career that has seen album sales of more than 100 million, 22 Top 10s, five Grammys, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, and a host of other awards.

His duet partners on Tuskegee include Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town, and of course, Currington.

On this worldwide, multi-genre album, Richie is also joined by the likes of such superstars as Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffett.

Currington has just launched his first headlining tour across the country. Touring with David Nail and Kip Moore, he will perform his No. 1 hits, including “People Are Crazy,” “Good Directions”, “That’s How Country Boys Roll,” “Don’t,” and “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right.”

Currington’s first two singles from his fourth studio album Enjoy Yourself, “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer” and “Let Me Down Easy,” marked his fourth and fifth consecutive #1 singles, with seven #1’s overall. Since his debut in 2003, Billy has sold more than 11 million units, earned multiple RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications, had ten Top 10 singles, been nominated for two Grammy Awards and multiple CMA and ACM Awards.

Chicago Tribune features Lionel Richie and his performance at SXSW


When it comes to romantic songs, Lionel Richie found the key to fans' hearts long ago. "I've been doing this for 37 years of songwriting," he says, calling from Austin, Texas, before an appearance at the South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival. "I found a subject that will never go out of style. These three words, 'I love you,' is all they want to hear. Those three corny-ass words."

The R&B-pop loveman is laughing now, considering the very core of his romantic oeuvre. "People don't want to hear, 'I like you,' or 'Let's be friends,' or "Let's just see each other on the weekends,'" he says. "People want to hear 'I love you.' I'm trying to find a hipper way to say it. But people don't want to hear a hipper way. People want to hear: 'I love you.' 'Don't ever leave me.' And what's that great word they want to hear? 'Forever.' C'mon. Once you put that in something, you're off to the races."

Jabari Asim, author of several books of cultural criticism and an associate professor at Emerson College, cites Richie's everyman appeal as a key to the artist's impact and longevity.

"Romantic R&B balladeers of Richie's era tended to be swaggering macho men like Teddy Pendergrass or plaintive, sensitive types like Luther Vandross," Asim says. "Richie comes off an earnest, amiable everyman, full of humility and yearning. Because of that everyman quality, it's easy for various types of listeners to plug themselves into the scenarios he describes. There's a sense that if he can successfully woo his heart's desire with plain-spoken sincerity, then maybe I can too." 

To read the full article, go to Chicagotribune.Com

You’ve said you aim your songwriting towards people who aren’t in LA or New York, but in the center of the country, the “flyover states.” What’s the philosophy there?

Lionel: If you want to write things – and I don’t call them gimmicks – I just call them great records. They’re now, they’re today. It’s gonna be here today and gone tomorrow. Why? Because they found a certain thing that was hip for that day – anything that had “groovy” in it. “Groovy’s” gonna stay right where “groovy was”, or anything that had “dog” or anything that had “my bitch.” You’re gonna go, “Oh yeah, I know what era that was.”

And then you find songs that relate to every day living. You find titles that, if it’s 1960, 1980, 1990, 2090, I don’t think they’re gonna change too much from there. “Yesterday” is gonna work just fine. “Easy Like Sunday Morning” is gonna work just fine. “Three Times A Lady” will still be working. In other words, love will never go out of style.

I found that there’s a more loyal group between NY and LA, and that’s where great songs stay and live. And so I think I was very much aware of the fact – if I wasn’t aware of it before, I was certainly aware of it after I met Kenny Rogers. Kenny Rogers is the one that said, “if you find out the right phrase that they keep repeating over again, then that’s called your song forever.” Sinatra told me the same thing. “If you find the song that they keep asking for over and over again, you’ve got yourself a career.”

 With the pop music of today — do you think it’s as good or better than the pop music of the 80’s?

Lionel: It’s so clever now. Because they’ve taken the best of technology and turned it into… I actually love it, from that standpoint – now that they’ve incorporated the DJs in with the melody and the songwriters. So now it’s a fabulous track on top of a great vocal......


For the full interview, check out Americansongwriter.com

Music icon Lionel Richie takes the next step of his storied career on Monday, March 26, with the release of his highly anticipated new album, Tuskegee, which features 13 of his timeless hits performed as duets with country stars.

“Tuskegee is one of the most special albums I have ever done in my life,” he says. “It’s a moment in time when all of these artists got together and celebrated music.”

With this worldwide release comes several firsts for Richie, including his first Billboard cover, which is the March 24 issue that is on stands now, and his first performance at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, where he received rave reviews after taking the stage of the Billboard showcase on March 14. On Friday, he achieved another career first when he performed an hour-long live concert for HSN.

Tuskegee debuted at No. 1 on iTunes Canada on Monday, the day of its Canadian release. The album is also available in United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Europe and Australia, and will be released to the rest of the world on Monday.

On Friday, March 23, CMT will premiere CMT Presents: Lionel Richie: Tuskegee at 10:30 a.m. ET/9:30 a.m. CT. This 30-minute show contains an exclusive interview with Richie, as well as footage from the studio with his duet partners and the “Endless Love” video with Richie and Shania Twain. On Tuesday, March 27, at 8 a.m. ET/7 a.m. CT, Richie takes over as CMT’s VJ for a Day and shares his favorite country videos in the one-hour special.

BET will air CENTRIC Presents: Lionel Richie: Tuskegee on March 24 at 9:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. CT.

NBC’s Weekend Today will air Lester Holt’s interview with Richie on Sunday, March 25. Richie will also appear on NBC’s The Voice on Monday, March 26.

On Tuesday, March 27, he will be joined by Little Big Town to perform “Deep River Woman” on the Today show. That evening, Jason Aldean will duet with Richie on “Say You, Say Me” on Late Show with David Letterman. On Wednesday, March 28, he will be interviewed on Piers Morgan Tonight, which airs on CNN at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

He will appear on the 47^th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on CBS on April 1 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. The next evening, the Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions will tape an all-star concert special, ACM PRESENTS: Lionel Richie and Friends--In Concert, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The show will air on CBS on April 13 at 9 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. CT. Some of his greatest hits will be performed by Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers and many more.

On April 2, he will perform on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Billy Currington will join Lionel on the duet of “Just For You” for ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on April 4 and on The Talk on CBS on April 5.

Tuskegee is an exciting new chapter in a career that has seen album sales of more than 100 million, 22 Top 10s, five Grammys, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, and a host of other awards.

His duet partners on Tuskegee include Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington and Little Big Town.

On this worldwide, multi-genre album, Richie is also joined by the likes of such superstars as Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffett.

The deluxe edition of the album contains a DVD featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the recording sessions with Richie and his duet partners.

“By far, this is probably the most fun ever because of the fact I did not have a clue as to what it was going to be from one session to the next,” he says. “What started out as a group of very talented, very successful collaborations with great artists ended up brand new, very good old friends. We’ve had so much fun. I learned more jokes.  I’ve gotten more jokes to tell.  I have jokes I can never say again. 

“I’m so proud of the fact that this album has renewed my faith in mankind because this is what the business is supposed to be in the beginning, where you walk into a room and you can be you and I can be me and we can have some fun together.  Egos were left not at the door but never came in the room. 

Rollingstone.com interviewed Lionel Richie after his HSN live concert.

Lionel Richie hasn't gone so far as to don a cowboy hat – yet – but that hasn't kept him from feeling the love from the country music world: the R&B singer and Eighties pop star sold a whopping 20,000 copies of his new LP, Tuskegee, in a single hour during his live concert event on HSN last Friday night.

For Richie, the crossover to country had been decades in the making. "Conway Twitty wanted me to come years ago and 'be country,'" Richie said, "but I was too busy being a Commodore. Then Kenny Rogers wanted me to go country, but I was too busy being the 'pop' Lionel Richie. Then all of a sudden we went into an area where it was, 'Can Lionel Richie rap?' No!" he said with a laugh. "Trust me. I can do it, but you don't want to hear me. Flava Flav said, 'Don't try it! If you want somebody to rap, you call me. I'll rap. You just sing!"

The HSN Live concert, along with Richie's SXSW appearance last week, were precursors to an upcoming world tour. "My kids are old enough where I can leave home," says the father of three, who admits to loving his role as a grandfather to his daughter Nicole Richie's two kids far more than expected. "I gotta tell ya, I thought it was not going to be sexy at all, (but) I'm having the best time."

For the full interview and review, go to Rollingstone.com

“All of my friends are backstage,” Richie confessed during a pause, looking genuinely thrilled. “I can see The-Dream backstage,” he added. “But I can’t see The-Dream in L.A. How about that!”

For the full article, check out EW.Com

Lionel Richie headlines Wednesday Showcase at ACL Live at the Moody Theater.

Lionel Richie may not be a typical SXSW buzz band, but the R&B icon used his set at ACL Live’s Moody Theater – where he anchored Billboard’s showcase – to remind the music industry just exactly who he is and where he’s been. The performance proved he’s still got some of the magic that made him one of the most successful male solo artists of the 1980s, following his stint in one of Motown’s most successful acts, the Commodores.

"Why has it taken me this long to make it to South By Southwest?" he asked at the beginning of his hit-heavy set, before launching into a series of Commodore classics including "Easy (Like Sunday Morning)" and, later, "Brick House." Shortly after coming on strong, he told the crowd that he was going to change his set around for an unplanned solo piano segment. "In fact, I think I want the band to leave the stage," he said. "Just me; just you." He then tickled the ivories for a stirring renditions of "Still" and "Oh No."

But the true highlight came when Richie invited Kenny Rogers to the stage. "I’m about to bring out one of my dearest friends and we made many records together," said Richie. Turning to Rogers, he said,"Kenny, having you up on this stage is about the best thing that could happen to either of us." He then recalled that the first time he met Rogers, he told the music legend that one day he wanted to be as big as him. "I’m still not there," he joked – kinda. The pair performed "Lady," after which they embraced.

To read more about Lionel performance, check out RollingStone.com

After warm-up performances from The-Dream, Poliça, Vintage Trouble and Wallpaper., Richie hit the stage well past midnight and launched into a modernized take on classic single "Hello." Joined by a sizable band, he launched into "Running with the Night" and spent the next hour and a half walking back through his lengthy career. He ran through Commodores hits such as "Easy," "Fancy Dancer" and "Lady (You Bring Me Up)," as well as "Brick House" -- part of a funky encore which included a version of "All Night Long (All Night)" that could've kept the audience grooving for the rest of the week.

Richie also spent several songs alone at the piano, ushering his band off stage to showcase the intimacy of the 1,300-capacity Moody Theater. He was joined by special guest Kenny Rogers for a duet on "Lady," the 1980 track that Richie wrote and produced and the country icon made a hit.

Richie's March 26-due album, "Tuskegee," will be a broader foray into the genre -- one he's likely to showcase on an upcoming world tour that Richie announced from the stage.

"This is the warm up to the warm up to the warm up," he joked. Judging by Wednesday night's performance, Richie's already bringing the heat.

For a recap of the entire night, check out Billboard.com

The New York Times had the pleasure of interviewing Lionel Richie on his upcoming induction to the Apollo Theater‘s Legends Hall of Fame.

In a week when Lionel Richie learns he’s going to be inducted into the Apollo Theater‘s Legends Hall of Fame and is announced as a star of ABC’s summer singing competition, “Duets,” we expected his excitement would have him dancing on the ceiling or partying all night long. But this former Commodores frontman-turned-solo singer-songwriter instead referred to another title in his smoother-than-smooth back catalog.

This is ‘Can’t Slow Down,’ Part 2,” Mr. Richie said on Friday, describing the current phase of his career. “There’s only one way I look at the business: you’re either going to be in it or you’re going to be out of it. I started thinking I’d better make some big changes when they start calling you ‘a living icon.’ That’s not good. It makes me sound like a museum exhibit.”

At a gala on June 4 he will be added to that Harlem theater’s Hall of Fame, along with Etta James, who died in January, and have a plaque added to its Walk of Fame on 125th Street, near previous honorees like Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder.

“If they want to put me with that list of names,” Mr. Richie said, “the answer is, absolutely. I mean, come on.”

In the weeks ahead, Mr. Richie said, “I’ve got an epidemic of duets.” In addition to his role on ABC’s “Duets,” he is also releasing an album on March 26 called “Tuskegee,” which pairs him with country music artists like Tim McGraw, Shania Twain and Jennifer Nettles.

Though he has made his mark in soul, R&B and pop, Mr. Richie said he could easily hang with his country peers, a lesson he learned while working on “Tuskegee.”

“I went to Nashville to play with musicians that I thought I’d never met or seen before,” he said. “I walk in the door and half of the guys played on the ‘Can’t Slow Down’ album. They had moved to Nashville. Now they’re country music guys, and I’m going, These are the guys who played on ‘Thriller.’ What are you talking about?”

To read the full article, check out NYTimes.Com

ABC announced today a brand new music competition series, “Duets,” starring four of the music industry’s biggest Superstars, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles, Lionel Richie and Robin Thicke. The new series will debut this summer on the ABC television network.

“Duets” is a one-of a kind singing competition that takes the Superstars out from behind the judges’ panel and onto the stage. Clarkson, Nettles, Richie and Thicke will individually set out on a journey across America looking for undiscovered talent worthy of being their protégés. Ultimately, each Superstar will choose two singers to be his/her duet partners. Together the Superstars and their protégés will take the stage each week and perform in front of a live studio audience. In the end, only one duet will be at the top of the charts, and the winning amateur will receive a recording contract with Hollywood Records.

Lionel Richie comments on his partnership with "Duets":
“I can’t wait to get started working with these phenomenally talented young artists. My goal will be to focus on developing true artistry and giving them the tools necessary to be creative artists instead of created artists, and I am eager to pass along a few of the nuggets of wisdom that I have received throughout my 40-year career from my own mentors, such as Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Quincy Jones and Stevie Wonder.”

For information on Duets, check out ABC.Com

The Apollo Theater, one of the nation’s greatest cultural treasures, will induct Lionel Richie and the late Etta James into its Apollo Legends Hall of Fame at its seventh annual Spring Gala on Monday, June 4, 2012. The Gala Benefit Concert and Awards Ceremony brings together the best and brightest in business and entertainment to raise funds in support of the non-profit theater’s remarkable legacy, its current initiatives for emerging artists, and community and educational programs that serve students and families in New York City and beyond.   

Lionel Richie and Etta James join past Apollo Legends Hall of Fame inductees—all legendary musicians, artists, and entertainers whose paths to fame included the Apollo—Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Patti Labelle, Smokey Robinson, James Brown, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Little Richard, and Ella Fitzgerald. Each Apollo Legends Hall of Fame inductee is honored with a plaque in the Apollo Walk of Fame, installed under the Theater’s iconic marquee on 125^th Street.

Celebrated singer-songwriter, musician and record producer Lionel Richie is a multi-award winning superstar whose musical legacy spans more than three decades. His long association with the Apollo began in the 1970s when he performed at the Theater as part of The Commodores. Richie has created an unforgettable body of work that speaks to people of all races, faiths and ages around the world, with universal themes of life, love and loss presented with poetic simplicity and irresistible melodies. He has earned sales of more than 100 million albums, 22 Top 10 hits, five Grammys, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, and a host of other awards from virtually every major entertainment organization. His catalog of timeless hits includes "Say You, Say Me," "Easy," "Still," "Hello," "Stuck On You," You Are," "My Love," "Endless Love" and "We Are the World." By defying boundaries, blending genres and ignoring trends to remain true to what is in his heart, the gifted storyteller has shaped popular culture as his music has served as the soundtrack for generations around the world.

"I was so moved when I found out that I would be inducted into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame, an honor made even more special because it is shared this year with the late Etta James. I am so proud to join my friends, including Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and so many more in the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame,” said Richie. "The Apollo Theater has meant so much not only to me, but to all of American music. I treasure my memories of the Apollo, each visit is like a family reunion, and I can't wait for this homecoming to begin. This will be a truly special and unforgettable night for me."

Blues, soul, jazz, R&B, and rock vocalist Etta James forged a five-decade career with over a dozen hit singles, four Grammys, and a prominent place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. James performed at the Apollo Theater as early as 1957 with Big Maybelle Smith, and then went on to perform again in 1963, during the era when the legendary Frank Schiffman was the Apollo’s manager. Schiffman, known for his meticulous record-keeping, kept a 5”x8” card on every act he hired, noting the act’s opening night and his own comments. Of Etta’s 1963 appearance, Schiffman wrote: “Wonderful, singing star.”

Initially billed as an R&B and rock and roll singer, James crossed over to the pop market as an interpreter of soulful, jazz-tinged ballads such as “All I Could Do Was Cry,” “My Dearest Darling,” “Trust in Me,” “At Last,” “Don’t Cry, Baby,” and “I’d Rather Go Blind,” which she sang without sacrificing her bluesy and churchy vocal mannerisms. James passed away on January 20, 2012 at age 73.

“Lionel Richie is one of our most accomplished artists and one of our nation’s most creative musical talents. His artistic and philanthropic endeavors have inspired us for decades, and it will be a great honor to welcome him to the Apollo in June to induct him into our Apollo Legends Hall of Fame,” said Apollo Theater president and CEO Jonelle Procope. “We are also privileged to have the opportunity to celebrate and remember the great Etta James, a true American musical icon.”

Additionally, The Apollo will present Citi with its Corporate Award, in recognition of their community leadership. Each year at the Spring Gala benefit, the Apollo recognizes a corporation whose support enables the Theater to grow and expand in its programs and community and education offerings.

The evening consists of the gala benefit concert and awards ceremony, produced by Ron Weisner for Ron Weisner Entertainment, and an after-party called the Apollo Supper Club, featuring a stylish lounge atmosphere, spectacular gourmet creations, and late-night dancing.

Tickets for the 2012 Spring Gala and after-party are now on sale. To purchase benefit tickets to the event or to make a donation to the Apollo Theater, call 212-531-5347. To purchase show-only tickets, visit www.apollotheater.org.

This event is the Apollo’s largest annual fundraiser and proceeds of the event will benefit the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc., a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, dedicated to preserving and developing the Apollo Theater and its initiatives for performing artists, educational programs, and community outreach efforts in New York City and beyond.