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Country Elite Join Lionel Richie for ACM Special
You may know him from his time with the Commodores (“Brick House,” “Easy,” “Sail On”) or his legendary hits of the ‘80s (“Dancing on the Ceiling,” “Hello,” “All Night Long”), but legendary singer-songwriter Lionel Richie cut his teeth on a Southern mixture of country, R&B and Gospel music as a kid in Tuskegee, Alabama. After four decades in the music business, Richie is celebrating those roots with the Academy of Country Music through the primetime special ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends - In Concert.
Taping on Monday, April 2nd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, this country collaboration will feature duets from Richie’s upcoming album Tuskegee along with some of his greatest hits performed by country superstars Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers and many more. Richie says the album was a “coming home” to the place his musical passion was first stoked.
“This place called Tuskegee is where it all began—the place where I felt that everything was available and possible. It's where I learned about life and love and the power of music, and the place I built a musical foundation that knows no genres or boundaries,” Richie said. “Tuskegee also proved the perfect melting pot for all of my influences as a writer, and as my songwriting progressed, I realized that my songs perfectly translated to country music.
Shortly after leaving the Commodores in 1980, Richie penned “Lady,” which became one of country legend Kenny Rogers’ biggest hits. Richie was also a co-writer on the iconic ‘80s tribute song “We Are the World,” which also featured country acts Rogers and Willie Nelson.
Tickets for ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends – In Concert are on sale now. Proceeds from the show will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the Academy’s philanthrophic arm which works to improve lives through music.
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