Lionel Richie Recalls Inviting Fans to Meals Because He Feared Being Alone

Lionel Richie is opening up about a surprising habit he developed during the early days of his career, inviting fans to eat with him because he couldn’t bear to dine alone.

The 76-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer revealed the memory during an appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends while promoting his new memoir, Truly. The book offers an intimate look at Richie’s rise to superstardom, his struggles with anxiety and loneliness, and how he learned to find peace both on and off stage.

“For the first five years, if we had breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I would go downstairs in the restaurant of whatever location and find a fan and go, ‘Let’s have lunch,'”Richie recalled. “I just couldn’t figure that out.”

The “All Night Long” singer explained that performing came naturally to him, but navigating fame offstage was another story. “As time went on, I kind of developed this thing where, ‘Okay, how do I just relax?'” he said.

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“The relaxing part was on stage,” he added. “The next thing I didn’t understand was that I chose, of all businesses, I can write in the studio. Who’s in the studio? I don’t have to have anybody. But after you get the hit record, guess what you have to do? Show up somewhere. The worst part was showing up somewhere.”

Richie admitted he often battled stage fright and panic attacks, despite his confidence as a performer. However, Richie’s determination to succeed kept him pushing forward.

“My dad used to always have this chant, over and over again — ‘What is the similarity between a hero and a coward? They were both scared to death,'”Richie said. “It’s just one step forward and one step back, and I kept saying, ‘Step forward.’ I don’t care how scared you are — step forward.”

In Truly, Richie dives deeper into his personal journey, from global fame and timeless hits like “Endless Love” and “Hello” to his battles with ADHD, the loss of his father, two divorces, and a vocal cord injury that nearly ended his career.