Lionel Richie would not be a star selling over 100 million records if his father had not made a split-second decision in the 1950s in Alabama. He was just a boy when he drank from a ‘White Only’ water fountain in Montgomery. Four white men saw him and began to harass his father. Lionel watched his dad, a tough military officer, fight back and win.
But his father did the opposite. Lionel felt confused and ashamed that his father seemed to act like a coward in front of those mean men.
Years later, Lionel finally asked his father why he did not stand his ground that day. In this video, Lionle reveals the reason for his father’s act. His father said he had to choose between being a man or being a father. That moment of strength became the blueprint for how Lionel treats people today.
Watch the full video below:
Lionel Richie’s Father’s Inspirational Words That Stayed With Him
One viewer noted that you can see the tears in his eyes as he tells the story. People call him a class act because he learned that being right is not as important as being there for the people you love.
This lesson of choosing family over pride followed him into his own journey as a parent. Lionel saw a four-year-old girl named Nicole playing a tambourine on stage at a Prince concert. Her biological parents were struggling. Lionel realized she was stuck in a sad limbo. He decided to ‘be the dad’ just like his father did. And promised she would never be abandoned again.
How Lionel Richie Came To Adopt His Daughter Nicole
Lionel Richie’s music comes from a place of human sacrifice. His voice carries the kindness of a man who knows what it means to protect a family. Follow Lionel Richie on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram to hear more of his incredible journey.