Lionel Richie facts: Who is his wife and how many children does he have?

26 June 2020, 15:29 | Updated: 26 June 2020, 15:31

Lionel Richie and his three children Nicole, Sofia and Miles. Picture: Getty

By Tom Eames

Lionel Richie is one of the world's most popular singer-songwriters, and he's as busy as ever as he enters his 70th year.

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From Lionel Richie's children and family to his background, here are the important facts about the Commodores singer every fan should know:

Lionel Richie age: How old is he and where is he from?

Lionel Richie. Picture: Getty

Lionel Richie was born on June 20, 1949.
He will celebrate his 70th birthday in 2019.
He was born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama, and was the son of Lionel Brockman Richie Sr and Alberta R Foster.
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He was a star tennis player in his youth, and once considered studying divinity to become a priest in the Episcopal Church, but eventually chose a musical career.
Lionel Richie wife: Is he married?

Lionel Richie and first wife Brenda Harvey in 1984. Picture: Getty

In 1975, Lionel married his college sweetheart, Brenda Harvey.
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In 1986, while he was still married, Lionel began a relationship with Diane Alexander.
He later separated from Harvey, who in 1988 allegedly discovered her husband and Alexander together in a Beverly Hills hotel room by saying she was "room service."

Lionel Richie and second wife Diane Alexander in 2001. Picture: Getty

Lionel and Harvey divorced in 1993 after nearly 18 years of marriage.
He married Diane Alexander in 1995, but the marriage ended in 2003.
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For the past few years, he has been in a relationship with Lisa Parigi, who is in her thirties.

Lionel Richie and girlfriend Lisa Parigi in 2018. Picture: Getty
Lionel Richie children: How big is his family?

Lionel and Nicole Richie. Picture: Getty

In 1983, Lionel and his first wife adopted Nicole Camille Escovedo, the two-year-old daughter of one of the members of his band, and niece of drummer Sheila E.
They raised her as their daughter, Nicole Richie, and adopted her legally when she was nine. She has since become a reality TV star, most famous for her show The Simple Life alongside Paris Hilton.
With his second wife, he has a son, Miles Brockman (born 1994), and a daughter, Sofia Richie (born 1998). Both are now models.

Lionel Richie with children Sofia and Miles in 2012. Picture: Getty

In 2017, Sofia was said to be dating reality TV star and Kardashian family member Scott Disick, something Lionel wasn't too happy about at the time. She has also dated Lewis Hamilton, Brooklyn Beckham and Justin Bieber among others.
In 2018, Miles was arrested at Heathrow Airport after being refused on a flight and threatening that he had a bomb. He was later released.
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Lionel became a grandfather in 2008, when Nicole Richie gave birth to a baby girl with the lead singer of US band Good Charlotte, Joel Madden. Richie's second grandchild was born to the couple in 2009.