Lionel Richie Is Officially Inducted Into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Lionel Richie has officially been cemented into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
On Saturday (Nov. 5), the Grammy award-winning artist gave a powerful speech and also got the crowd on his feet as he performed his greatest hits.
The Commodores musician was first introduced on stage by Lenny Kravitz before opening up his medley of hits including “Hello,” the Commodores' classic track “Easy,” and his popular song “All Night Long.”
“I must say also that there are people that have actually had to tolerate quite a bit,” he shared during his speech. “Sometimes when you fall in love with the music business, you tend to fall out of love and people don’t understand what the hell you’re doing over. I missed 25 years of pep rallies, bonfires, and family reunions.”
He added in part: “I cannot and will not walk off this stage without acknowledging my dear dear dear friends the Commodores. Thank God for the Commodores because there would be no Lionel Richie…I must say also that there are people that have actually had to tolerate quite a bit. Sometimes when you fall in love with the music business, you tend to fall out of love and people don’t understand what the hell you doing over… I missed 25 years of pep rallies, bonfires, family reunions.”
“I’m on the stage tonight. But the most important thing is I want to thank all of my friends, my family, Miles, Sofie, Nicole. The grandkids. Lisa, my heart. I want to thank them for actually sitting through my magical mystery tour. And I want to let everyone know that I am probably not coming home for quite a while. I’m in love with this business. I love what I do. Thank you so much for this amazing moment.”
Richie’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction comes on the heels of his induction into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, where he was named a Legacy Inductee. The Library of Congress also awarded the musician with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
