Lionel Richie Shares Sneak Peek Details for King Charles' Coronation
Lionel Richie’s youngest daughter Sofia wed her now-husband Elliot Grainge in the South of France on April 22. That same night, Lionel hopped a plane back to Los Angeles to serve as a judge on American Idol that Sunday night.
Next weekend, Lionel will be both attending King Charles’ coronation and performing for the newly crowned monarch before jetting back to L.A. It’s a good thing the Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter learned how to deal with jet lag.
“I go from one exciting story to another exciting story,” he told Parade. “I would love to tell you that you can go to sleep in the middle of your daughter’s wedding. You can’t. You also can’t sleep through [American Idol] because you have to make decisions.”
Even with so much on his plate, there was no way that Lionel was going to say no to attending a once-in-a-lifetime event like the coronation. Especially because he and King Charles, who are about the same age, met as young men when Charles was just a prince.
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“I’ve known him for a while,” Lionel says. “I’ve been Global Chairman of the Board of his Prince’s Trust. What we’ve done over the last 30-some odd years, we’ve helped a million kids.”
Lionel originally joined the Prince’s Trust back in 1984 or 1985 and it was just recently that he was named Global Ambassador for the charitable organization.
“I’m the face basically,” he says. “My job is to introduce King Charles to the rest of the world. He can’t do that on a daily basis, so I’ll gladly take that as my charity, as well. It’s been my charity for a while. To get that invitation, ‘Would you like to witness a little bit of history?’ is not too bad for a little Alabama boy coming up through the ranks. I’m very proud to be there.”
Following the actual coronation, Lionel will be performing the next night at the castle, as will Katy Perry. But what he won’t reveal the songs he’ll be singing. Those are a state secret.
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“They gave suggestions,” Lionel said when asked what he will be performing. “I call them the royal suggestions. Of course, I say, ‘Oh my God, are you sure?’ Then, after saying ‘yes,’ I said, ‘I’m going to tell everybody,’ and they said, ‘You can’t tell anyone.’ So, it’s a secret, I can’t tell you. Boy, I wish I could tell you but all I can say to you it is going to be an evening fit for a royal occasion.”
ABC/Gavin Bond
Katy, too, was invited because she’s involved with one of King Charles’ charities, the British Asian Trust.
“I met His Majesty a few years ago and he asked me to be an ambassador for this foundation that helps end child trafficking,” she told Parade, which really aligns with what I do with UNICEF, as well, and being a mother. When you have your own, you’re like, ‘These are precious, innocent babies.’ I’m glad we’re aligned on that and I’m glad I can be an ambassador and represent the USA and be there with my fellow American Idol judge.”
American Idol airs Sunday and Monday this week at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
The coronation concert will be held on May 7. The event will broadcast live in the U.K. from Windsor Castle. In addition to Lionel and Katy, Andrea Bocelli, British pop group Take That, Freya Ridings, and Alexis Ffrench will be performing. In addition, Sir Bryn Terfel will perform Welsh folk songs and the entire event will be hosted by Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville.