Lionel Richie Reveals Personal Struggles, Triumphs in New Memoir, ‘truly’
LOS ANGELES - Lionel Richie, the iconic singer-songwriter behind decades of hits, opens up about the highs and lows of his life and career in his forthcoming memoir, Truly. The book details not only the creative process behind chart-topping songs like “We Are the World,” but also the personal turmoil that accompanied his success, including the dissolution of his marriages and the breakup of The commodores.
Richie acknowledges the difficulty of revisiting painful chapters, stating he knew he’d be “wasting time if he didn’t dig into the hard stuff.” He approaches these sensitive subjects with a philosophy he’s developed over time: “If you run from the lion, the lion will chase you. If you attack the lion, the lion will run away.”
The memoir recounts the unusual success of “we Are The World,” co-written with Michael Jackson and recorded in 1985 with a collective of music luminaries. Richie reflects on the song’s impact, saying it “changed my life” and prompted him to consider, “Well, if I’m in my championship season, what good can I do with it?” The record reportedly sold 800,000 copies within three days and raised US$80 million for famine relief in Africa.
However, the period following this triumph brought significant personal challenges. Richie experienced the loss of his father, the public end of his first marriage, and a temporary loss of his voice. He describes feeling overwhelmed, stating, “I didn’t know you can disintegrate with the rocket.” This led to a “nervous breakdown” and a period of isolation in Jamaica in 1991, were he spent five days alone, drinking Cristal as the tide rose around him. Hotel staff repeatedly rescued him,retrieving his champagne bottles filled with saltwater.
A turning point came during a visit to his grandmother in Tuskegee, who offered simple, yet profound advice: ”Why don’t you get a good night’s sleep? God has your next move.”
Richie emphasizes the importance of facing fear, repeatedly stating, ”Every time you feel fear, step forward.” He believes confronting present challenges is key, noting, “Today may be confusing…Tomorrow may not be. Why? As I faced today.”
