Lionel Richie Breaks Silence on Explosive 1980s Love Triangle in Tell-All Memoir

Pop-soul legend Lionel Richie is trending again, and it’s not because of a new chart-topper. The 76-year-old hitmaker has just lifted the velvet curtain on decades of closely guarded stories in his first memoir, “Truly,” sparking a fresh wave of headlines, fan searches, and preorder clicks. A Memoir Filled With Blockbuster Reveals Richie’s book dissects everything from his Commodores days to the superstardom of “Hello,” but two anecdotes have set social media ablaze. In one chapter he recalls the explosive 1988 encounter when first wife Brenda Harvey allegedly confronted future wife Diane Alexander at the couple’s Beverly Hills home—a showdown he now calls a “massive confrontation” that changed his life forever. Another passage revisits the singer’s studio time with Michael Jackson, revealing the King of Pop’s light-hearted nickname “Smelly,” earned for his habit of punctuating brilliant take after brilliant take with a playful “Smell that!” instead of profanity. A Healing Moment on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” Ahead of release week, Richie sat down with Kelly Clarkson, turning what was slated as a promotional chat into a heartfelt “tent-revival” conversation about grief, faith, and moving on after loss. Clarkson teared up as Richie led the audience in an impromptu sing-and-sway that viewers are calling one of the daytime show’s most uplifting segments this season. The clip racked up millions of views within hours, driving even more curiosity about the memoir’s deeper themes of resilience. Book-Tour Stops and “All the Hits” Residency Fans hoping for a signed copy or a face-to-face Q&A won’t have to wait long. Richie launches a short U.S. book tour on October 6 at Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre, followed by an October 15 appearance in Las Vegas—conveniently dovetailing with his long-running “All the Hits” residency at Wynn’s Encore Theater. While these events are billed as conversations rather than full concerts, insiders hint that a piano and microphone will be close at hand. Why the Buzz Matters Between eye-opening revelations, viral television moments, and fresh tour dates, Lionel Richie has re-inserted himself into multiple high-traffic search lanes: celebrity memoirs, Michael Jackson lore, daytime TV highlights, and 2025 live events. For long-time devotees and Gen-Z discovery listeners alike, “Truly” offers a backstage pass to pop history—and a reminder that, four decades in, Lionel Richie is still writing chapters worth talking about.