- Lionel Richie, the multi-award-winning singer, has had a troubled marriage.
- On October 18, 1975, Lionel married his first wife, Brenda Harvey-Richie
- Lionel has been in a happy relationship with his entrepreneur and model girlfriend
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Who is Lionel Richie?
Lionel Richie, the multi-award-winning singer, has had a troubled marriage. Due to his infidelity, his first wife filed for divorce, and his second marriage ended due to irreconcilable differences. Despite his failed relationships, the father of three children is currently in a happy place with a new relationship.
Many of you are already aware of this, but there are some details about his personal life that you should be aware of. Today, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about his previous marriages, children, and dating history. Beginning with his first relationship and progressing to his current one.
Lionel Richie and Brenda Harvey-First Richie’s Wife: Their Connection
On October 18, 1975, Lionel married his first wife, Brenda Harvey-Richie.
It was a small wedding ceremony, with only close friends and family present.
When it comes to how the two first met, they met while attending the same high school.
Since they began dating, Richie and Brenda have shared a deep love and affection.
Lionel and Brenda Harvey, his first wife.
However, things were not always perfect.
Lionel’s relationship was put to the test when he went on tour with his former band, the Commodores.
Their sweet love story was on the verge of ending due to a lack of communication between them.
Nonetheless, things improved after Lionel returned from his tour and
proposed to his then-girlfriend and soon-to-be wife.
Lionel and Brenda have adopted a daughter.
Lionel and Brenda had been married for several years but had yet to have children.
Then a couple asked them to look after Nicole, their three-year-old daughter.
So Nicole Richie (previously Escovedo) entered their lives about a decade after their wedding.
She was the biological daughter of Richie’s bandmates Peter Michael Escovedo and Karen Moss.
Nicole’s parents were going through personal and financial difficulties,
so they decided to entrust her care to the Richies.
Richie Rich Nicole Richie, Nicole Richie’s Adopted Daughter
Nicole Richie was adopted by Lionel and his first wife.
Lionel stated during an interview with Piers Morgan,
“It took me about a year to just fall in love [with Nicole].”
Of course, I was ‘Dad’ by then… That’s when I suggested adopting her.
Nicole was officially adopted by Lionel and Brenda when she was nine years old.
Their daughter established her own career in the entertainment industry.
She is best known for her role in the reality show The Simple Life.
Paris Hilton, a close friend of hers, also appeared in the film.
Nicole is happily married to Joel Madden and has two children, Harlow and Sparrow.
Brenda Harvey filed for divorce from Lionel after he cheated on her.
Brenda and Lionel’s relationship reached rock bottom in the late 1980s.
In 1988, she discovered Lionel and his mistress Diane Alexander in the latter’s Beverly Hills apartment.
Brenda entered the room around 2 a.m. on June 29th, claiming she had come for room service.
She caught Lionel and Diane off guard.
She then began bashing Lionel and even dropped kicked him in the gut.
Richie soon left the apartment, while Brenda began beating Diane, who was 22 at the time.
At the time, a neighbor told PEOPLE Magazine,
“Lionel was present, and it was clear that his wife had just discovered him with Diane.
His wife was extremely enraged. Inside, glass shattered and furniture smashed.
She sounded like she was murdering someone. It wasn’t exactly civilized.”
Brenda was later charged with causing bodily harm to a spouse, resisting arrest, vandalism, and domestic violence.
Their marriage had begun to deteriorate after Lionel met Diane, his second wife.
He had been sneaking into Diane’s apartment through the back door for the past few years, prior to the big incident.
Following that, on August 9, 1993, Lionel and Brenda officially divorced after 18 years of marriage.
In 1995, Lionel married his second wife, Diane Alexander: She has two children with her.
Richie married his mistress, Diane, after finalizing his divorce from his first wife.
They married on December 21, 1996.
Initially, the two met at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Diane was one of the dancers performing at the song while Richie sang at the ceremony.
In addition, a few years later, in 1986, she appeared in the video for Richie’s hit song Dancing on the Ceiling.
Lionel and Diane had been dating even while he was still married to his wife.
Diane moved in with Lionel after Lionel and Brenda divorced in 1992.
On May 27, 1994, Diane gave birth to their first child, a boy named Miles Brockman.
On August 24, 1998, four years later, Sofia Richie arrived.
Richie Rich Children
Lionel and Diane had two children, Sofia and Lionel and Diane Divorced in 2003:
Information Regarding the Divorce Settlement
After only eight years of marriage, the lovebirds decided to divorce.
Diane filed for divorce in January 2004, citing irreconcilable differences.
Several tabloids claim they married in 1995, but Diane’s divorce papers state it was definitely in 1996.
Lionel Richie’s Divorce Paperwork
Lionel and Diane married in 1996, not 1995, according to the divorce document.
What really set the entertainment world on fire was the Richie
family’s extravagant lifestyle, as detailed in Diane’s divorce papers.
According to the divorce papers, the family used to spend more than $300,000 per month on expenses.
Similarly, she requested $300,000 in monthly spousal support as well as custody of her children.
Their divorce was finalized a few months later.
Diane was awarded a whopping $20 million.
Alimony payments included $15,000 per month for shopping,
$50,000 for personal services, and a $20,000 budget for plastic surgery.
Lionel is dating Lisa Parigi, who is at least three decades her junior.
Lionel has been in a happy relationship with his entrepreneur and model girlfriend, Lisa Parigi, since around 2014.
Despite the fact that the lovebirds appear to have a significant age difference,
it has yet to cause any strain in their relationship.
When it comes to Lisa, is of mixed Swiss, Caribbean, and Chinese ancestry.
She also speaks four languages: German, French, Swiss-German, and English.
Meanwhile, Richie is eager to start a family with his girlfriend Lisa.
In 2016, he told Mirror, “I’m willing to become a father again.”
I may have accidentally revealed a secret there, but Lisa and I are fine with the idea of having children.”
If they are open to the idea of having children, then marriage may not be far behind.
