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Lionel Richie, in conversation with son-in-law Joel Madden, explained why it is essential for celebrities to interact with their fans: "For me to ignore them would be the worst."
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Hello, Lionel Richie has some advice you may be looking for.
Especially for anyone trying to step into his shoes.
"I hope you like people," the American Idol judge explained on the March 26 episode of his son-in-law Joel Madden's podcast Artist Friendly. "If you don't like people, here's how it's going to sound. You spend the first half of your career going, 'Look at me, look at me, look at me, look at me, look at me.' And then you finally get famous. 'Don't look at me. Don't look at me. Don't look at me.'"
"The universe gave you what you were asking for," the four-time Grammy winner continued. "Now, what is it about people you don't like? You want to be famous and rich without the people? It doesn't work like that. You have to be able to engage."
It's a rule that means more to the 76-year-old.
"Sometimes you meet the person you idolize the most and you're sorry you met them," he said. "I made a promise to myself. I'm never going to be that."
"You know what it is? I was invisible once," he reflected. "There's a person who—they're scared to death of you. They want to say something to you. And you can see it on their face. They want to say something. And for me to ignore them would be the worst."
After all, interacting with fans is simply part of the job.
Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM
"I tell these kids on American Idol, there are two halves of likability," he shared. "They come to the show to hear the song that they like, but two, they want to hang out with you 'cause they like you."
"You don't sit up on that stage and go, 'Thank you very much. Now my next song is—,' No," he continued. "You break the glass and go, 'Girl in a red dress. Oh my god, you look great.' That means you can see me now. Once you can see them and they can see you, that's an evening."
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