FULL NAME: Lionel Brockman Richie Jr.

HOMETOWN: Tuskegee, Alabama

BIRTHDAY: June 20, 1949

AGE: 75

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Dating Lisa Parigi

BIO: R&B singer Lionel Richie has been a judge on American Idol since its season 16 revival in 2018. He skyrocketed to fame as a songwriter and co-lead singer of the funk band The Commodores in the 1970s. After creating major hits with the group, he left in 1982 to pursue a solo career. His solo career was insanely successful, he became one of the most successful balladeers of the 1980s.

Richie has won four Grammy Awards over the years: one in 1982, two in 1984, and another in 1985. He was the first person ever to receive a RIAA diamond album award. On top of that, he’s won one Golden Globe award from two nominations and also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

This singer first married his college sweetheart Brenda Havey-Richie in 1975. Together, they adopted Nicole Richie, the two year old daughter of one of Lionel’s band members. They legally adopted her at nine years old. In 1993, Richie and his college sweetheart split, two years later the singer was married to dancer Diane Alexander. Together they had a son and daughter. Richie is currently dating model Lisa Parigi.