"Lionel Richie"

Summary

SmartLess – Lionel Richie

Episode Date: September 22, 2025
Hosts: Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett
Guest: Lionel Richie

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Episode Overview

In this episode, the SmartLess crew welcomes legendary singer-songwriter Lionel Richie. They dive into his upbringing in Tuskegee, Alabama, the rich musical and cultural heritage he inherited, lessons from his family, his path from the Commodores to solo stardom, songwriting secrets, maintaining humility in a wild industry, and the iconic story behind “We Are the World.” Lionel’s new memoir, Truly, releases September 30th.

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1. Early Conversation & Setting the Scene

Timestamps: 01:35 – 09:33

• The hosts open with playful banter about parenting and college drop-offs (Sean's daughter starting college).
• They reminisce about Jason’s infamous iPhone line-skipping incident:

  “Jason Bateman skips line!” – Will Arnett (06:47)

• The mood: light-hearted, self-deprecating, intimate.

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2. Lionel Joins: Childhood and Roots

Timestamps: 09:34 – 15:27

• Jason introduces Lionel Richie in a “bona fide decades-long international superstar” entrance (09:34).
• Lionel shares his origins:
  • Grew up in Tuskegee, Alabama, directly across from campus.
  • Family history tied deeply to Tuskegee University and the community.
  • “Tuskegee Airmen. This is my—the moms and dads of my whole little group.” – Lionel Richie (13:37)
  • Still owns the family home:

    “The memories are right there, still in the house. I still own the house.” – Lionel (11:57)

• Lionel’s nickname: originally “Ski Boo” (“painful”), evolved to “Skeet” in high school (16:00-16:41).

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3. Storytelling, Memory, and Writing His Memoir

Timestamps: 13:35 – 18:09

• Lionel discusses writing his first book, Truly (out Sept 30th), and the challenge of recall:
  • His Tuskegee friends and Commodores bandmates helped trigger memories.
  • Kept extensive archives thanks to family:

    “Scrapbook after scrapbook after scrapbook. We've got volumes...” – Lionel Richie (17:50)

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4. Early Musical Fascination & Natural Talent

Timestamps: 18:44 – 22:18

• Lionel clarifies: “I was a saxophone holder, not player!” (19:05)
• Self-taught, plays by ear, never learned to read or write music:

  “Once you find out that some of the greatest artists in the world cannot read or write music… it's a pretty rare fraternity.” – Lionel (19:25)

• Explains his struggle with ADHD and traditional music reading:

  “It wasn't that I couldn't read it. It's just I couldn't read it. Fast enough to play it.” (20:40)

• Songwriting process: “I can get it done faster by standing in a room with a group of musicians—hum it to them.” – Lionel (20:55)

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5. The Magic and Mystery of Songwriting; Inspirations

Timestamps: 22:19 – 31:41

• Describes the unexplained source of melodies:

  “For me—there’s a radio station playing right now. All I have to do is tap into it… There’s only 12 notes.” (21:43)

• On evolving with time and technology:
  • “After Penny Lover, probably after that, never played [grand piano] again—because technology came in.” (25:43)
• The stories behind classics:
  • “Hello” started as a “corny” joke while waiting for his co-producer:

    “‘Hello, is it me you’re looking for?’ Which is the corniest thing I could ever think about in life.” (26:48)

    • Initially disliked it, but finished it at producer’s insistence. Ultimately, massive global anthem (26:55).
  • Structuring songs around the “hook,” letting lyrics fit naturally.
  • Often started with “Dada’s”—placeholder sounds—that would sometimes turn into actual words, “God’s words.” (30:03)

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6. Humility, Kindness, and Staying Grounded

Timestamps: 31:41 – 38:28

• Lionel reflects on gratitude and not taking his gifts for granted:

  “First thing I get up in the morning, the last thing I say at night: how did it ever happen to me? Holy crap.” (30:34)

• Remaining humble in an industry rife with temptation and egos:

  “If you learn how to treat people right at home, the rest of the world is easy. An asshole is an asshole, period.” – Lionel recounting his grandmother’s wisdom (33:36)

• Keeping lifelong friendships—monthly Zooms with childhood pals—anchors Lionel (32:14).
• Powerful family example: Story of his father giving a stranger a suit for a job interview, illustrating values of generosity and care (36:34-37:20).

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7. Commodores Era & Breakout to Solo Stardom

Timestamps: 38:29 – 45:01

• Early Commodores days:
  • Lionel joins after claiming (truthfully) that he “holds a horn.”
  • The band formed for a college freshman talent show and quickly stole the spotlight:

    “We killed it. We just surprised everybody.” – Lionel (39:37)

  • They started with covers, then were challenged in an audition to “find their own sound.”
  • Lionel’s niche: Ballads/slow songs—became a key to getting songs on albums.
• The songwriting break: “Lady” (for Kenny Rogers) was originally just “Baby,” written for the Commodores.
  • “The guys walk in and announce no more slow songs. Okay, so that eliminates the brother right here.” (44:10)
  • Kenny Rogers calls looking for a song—let to Lionel retooling “Baby” into “Lady.” (45:01)
• Lionel recalls Kenny Rogers as a deep friend and mentor.

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8. Partying, Survival, and Scene Legends

Timestamps: 49:57 – 51:34

• Hosts ask about Lionel’s reputation as a “party animal.”
• Lionel recalls wild years touring with Parliament-Funkadelic, Rick James, and others:

  “I mean, everyone keeps thinking, you know, Lionel, it’s really nice because you’re such a sweet guy. Listen, man, I hung out with p. Funk, okay?... From 70 to probably 75 was like, everybody’s gonna die or everybody’s gonna live through it.” (50:06)

• Survival in that scene:

  “You got a chance to see either what you want to do or what you shouldn't do …” (51:34)

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9. The Making of “We Are The World”

Timestamps: 51:34 – 61:11

• Will brings up the documentary; Lionel dives into the challenges and strange optimism at its heart:
  • “There’s such a wonderful feeling of, you don’t know it’s gonna be a disaster… When we finished this song, we’re gonna save the world.” (52:31)
  • One-night recording marathon after the American Music Awards. No cell phones, no digital communication.
  • “All they had was, if they got a cassette. Think about that. If you got the cassette, you’re doing good. Most of them showed up just saying, ‘Okay, it’s Quincy, Michael, Lionel? Alright, I’ll be there.’” (54:04)
  • On the lyrics and surprising moments: Stevie Wonder suggests putting Swahili in the chorus. Waylon Jennings objects and leaves (“Ain’t no good ol’ boy ever sang no Swahili. I’m out of here.” 58:48)
• The project’s impact:

  “30 million in 1980. Wow. That’s like forever, you know.” (55:26)

  • The event’s impact was magnified by surprise—no social media, very little pre-hype.

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10. Songwriting Secrets, “Nonsense” Lyrics, and Enduring Hits

Timestamps: 59:14 – 63:07

• On the gibberish phrase in “All Night Long”:
  • “It’s a wonderful phrase that has gone around the world that means absolutely nothing.” (59:29)
  • Lionel tried to get authentic African lyrics, realized everyone just loved the sound:

    “Tambolite said the moya.”—“Means nothing.” (60:53)

• Fan culture is a joy—Lionel now enjoys massive international crowds:

  “When I forget the lyrics, I just go, come on—and here we go.” (62:09)

  • Glastonbury (200,000 dressed like Lionel) was a highlight and the starting point for his memoir’s journey.

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11. Reflections on Legacy and Positivity

Timestamps: 63:07 – 65:24

• The hosts marvel at Lionel’s enduring quality and generosity:

  “The longevity and the level of quality you've maintained for so long is just so astonishing.” – Sean Hayes (63:07)

• Lionel credits his outlook to survival and keeping his life “light, bright, and untarnished.”

  “Three simple words, I love you, is what the whole world wants to hear. So I didn’t plan it… It’s serving me and the world well.” (64:47)

• Offers a warm invitation to the hosts:

  “If you see me out, just come over and tap me on that shoulder and say, ‘Hey, it's me, Will, Sean, Jason, come on…’” (65:07)

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12. Favorite Quotes & Notable Moments

• “If you learn how to treat people right at home, the rest of the world is easy. An asshole is an asshole, period.” – Lionel Richie (33:36)
• “Once you find out that some of the greatest artists in the world cannot read or write music… it's a pretty rare fraternity.” – Lionel (19:25)
• “There are only 12 notes. All you need is four chords and that's a whole album, you know.” – Lionel (21:43)
• On not knowing African dialect for “All Night Long:”

  “It's a wonderful phrase that has gone around the world that means absolutely nothing.” (59:29)

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13. Final Thoughts: Hosts’ Reflections

Timestamps: 65:31 – 68:11

• Hosts bask in Lionel’s positivity:

  “I feel bathed.” – Sean Hayes (65:31)

• Discussion of musician guests’ unique spirit—comparing Lionel to Alicia Keys.
• Admiration for Lionel’s stamina, enduring career, and sunny spirit.

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14. Key Segment Timestamps Overview

• 09:34 – Introduction of Lionel Richie
• 11:27 – Tuskegee roots, family history
• 13:35 – Writing his memoir, Truly
• 16:00 – Nicknames: Ski Boo to Skeet
• 19:05 – Saxophone “holder,” playing by ear
• 26:43 – “Hello” genesis story
• 31:41 – Humility, generational wisdom
• 36:34 – Lionel’s father’s kindness story
• 39:37 – Commodores’ formation
• 44:10 – “Lady” for Kenny Rogers, evolution of songwriting for others
• 50:06 – Partying with Funkadelic, wild 1970s
• 52:31 – “We Are The World” making-of, obstacles and camaraderie
• 59:29 – “All Night Long” nonsense phrase revelation
• 62:09 – Today’s shows, massive crowds, joyful fandom
• 64:47 – “I love you” as Lionel’s life mantra

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Summary

This episode is a spirited, laughter-filled journey through Lionel Richie’s fascinating life. Listeners will find a masterclass in humility, artistry, and the power of kindness, intertwined with never-before-heard stories about some of music’s greatest moments. The SmartLess gang’s chemistry draws out Lionel’s warmth and wisdom, making for a truly feel-good listen.

Lionel Richie’s memoir, Truly, is out September 30th, 2025.

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For a full dose of positivity and rare behind-the-scenes tales, don’t miss this one.

Transcript

[Will Arnett]

This podcast is supported by FX's English teacher. Last year's critically acclaimed series returns to follow Evan, Gwen, and Markie as they vie for their students divided attention. Cy Cosmopolitan called its premiere season a masterclass of comedy. FX's English Teacher returns September 25th on FX. All episodes streaming on Hulu.

[Lionel Richie]

For a limited time at McDonald's, get a Big Mac Extra Value meal for $8. That means two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun, and medium fries. And a Dr. We may need to change that jingle. Prices and participation may vary.

[Sean Hayes]

So this is me flying solo on a cold open. I don't know if I've done this before. I think maybe I've done this before. It's not great. This is what you're gonna find in the next few seconds is why this show works with three and not with one. It might work with just Will or just Sean, but not just me. It's. It's just not enough. It's like one hand trying to clap. It's just. It's not possible. It sounds like this. You want to know what it sounds like? One hand clapping. It's terrible, right? It's not entertaining at all. So let me bring in the other two hands, and let's light this candle. Here we come.

[Jason Bateman]

Smart, wise, smart, smart.

[Will Arnett]

Wait. How's everybody doing today? It's morning where you are, Jay?

[Jason Bateman]

So good, jj.

[Sean Hayes]

It is. It's morning, and I'm still a little foggy from last night. I had a little too much sugar last night.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, no.

[Will Arnett]

What'd you have?

[Sean Hayes]

I have a sensitive system, you know.

[Jason Bateman]

Did you go to Sunday Funday?

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, we had a little peach cobbler for dessert, and it was great. You really the. I was saying as I was driving home with Amanda saying, you know, love. Love the groups there, but you just can't replace Sean or Will in the. In a. In a. In a party dynamic, you know, you can try. Dinner party dynamic.

[Will Arnett]

You can try.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, you can try. You can try.

[Sean Hayes]

We've got your headshots there on a couple of C stands, but it's.

[Jason Bateman]

C.

[Will Arnett]

Stands still, by the way. Still, by the way. You could put cake on the C stand, on the picture in the headshot, and I'd still probably enjoy it.

[Sean Hayes]

Somehow your picture would come to life.

[Jason Bateman]

And eat it up in, like, voodoo, Sean. You'd. All of a sudden, you'd, like, feel a warmth in your st.

[Sean Hayes]

Speaking of voodoo, I watched Weapons for the third time in last night.

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah, I can't wait to see it, man.

[Sean Hayes]

Big fan of that movie. That's Zach.

[Jason Bateman]

You keep saying how good it is and. And you watch with. With Franny.

[Sean Hayes]

Franny soaked it up, loved it. It's a real director's accomplishment.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, Franny's going away to start D. She's going away to college. She's going away to college.

[Sean Hayes]

I know. I moved tomorrow. Tomorrow?

[Will Arnett]

No way.

[Sean Hayes]

But at least she's going locally here to university here in Los Angeles. There might not be tears. I think if. I think if I was to fly her somewhere and then fly away, it would be really.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, but it's nice.

[Jason Bateman]

You don't think that you're going to have tears?

[Sean Hayes]

I don't think I'm going to have tears, no. Because look, you know, as any parent at an earlier age. Yeah, but you know, 17 year olds, 18 year olds, they. They end up doing a lot of sleep outs anyway, so, you know, she's sort of like living your three days a week anyway.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay, sleep outs.

[Will Arnett]

Sleep outs.

[Jason Bateman]

Sleep outs.

[Will Arnett]

What the hell is a sleep out?

[Sean Hayes]

Sleepover overs. Yeah, you know, sleep out.

[Will Arnett]

Hey, can you come over for a sleep out? What are you going to sleep out on the lawn?

[Jason Bateman]

Sean, were you. Was it teary when you left? Did your mom shed tears out of her one eye when you left for college?

[Sean Hayes]

I think the other one still cried. It just didn't see in the box.

[Jason Bateman]

It was in the box.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, it was. I opened the box later. It was cooling.

[Jason Bateman]

It was pooling in the box. No, I remember moving.

[Will Arnett]

I remember my move in day for college, though. It was like. It was like 100 degrees out. It was. Everybody just couldn't wait to be done with everybody. It was like, get out.

[Sean Hayes]

It's going to be 100 tomorrow when we're shipping furniture up two flights of stairs. Is that what it was with you? Just like caring who you pay to do it? Yeah, exactly. No, it's. It's going to be me and Amanda and Maple.

[Jason Bateman]

Is that really.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. Three cars worth of stuff.

[Jason Bateman]

Can I just say that were I there, and this is not a hollow offer, because I would help.

[Sean Hayes]

I would, by the way, very safe offer.

[Jason Bateman]

That's true.

[Sean Hayes]

But it is thousands of miles.

[Jason Bateman]

I know, but it is true.

[Lionel Richie]

It was.

[Will Arnett]

College was the best time of life. I loved it. You know, I remember before you peaked in college. I did. I remember my brother Mike was so impatient that before you could. Before computers and everything, and you had. You had to sign up for classes. He drove the car. There was a line from the building. Whatever it is the administrative building where you sign up for classes. All the way down the entire street, there was, like, a thousand people waiting in line to sign up for class. He drove the car right up on the lawn, got me out, walked right up to the front and said, hey, I need to sign my brother up for classes. And, like, well, there's a line. She's like, yeah, I know, but we were registered to come in. We had an appointment, and he just lied his way. And she just.

[Jason Bateman]

Bullshit.

[Will Arnett]

It did it right away.

[Sean Hayes]

That sounds like me trying to get an iPhone.

[Jason Bateman]

What do you mean, Jason? Don't bring it up. Don't let people Google Jason Bateman's jumping line for iPhone in 2007.

[Sean Hayes]

Where the hell happened? Wait, Will, was it really 2007?

[Jason Bateman]

It was amazing. Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

So, wait, what month was it?

[Jason Bateman]

That's a good question. I. That. I don't know. I'm going to say the fall, but give a good.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, because they usually release in the fall. You could guess. But, jb, you got the year down. Is that right?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Well, that's a year after they came out, right?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, that's the year they came out, Shawnie. So, you know, the story is JB and I, you know, the people, the nice people at Apple had sort of said, hey, we'll set you up with the phone. And Jason said, you know what? I'm going to go to the Grove, and I'm going to be a regular guy, and I'm going to wait in line and get my. So excited.

[Sean Hayes]

Romantic, fantasizing, the whole queuing up, you know, like Star wars and Empire Strikes Back, you know, and everyone, like, line up.

[Jason Bateman]

So I was like, okay. And I was like, I'm gonna get mine delivered to my house a week early anyways, which I did. JD Goes down. God bless him. God bless this little boy. He goes down to the Grove, and he's waiting in line, all excited and diligently, right? And he's there, and the employees at the Apple store there go, hey, look, that's Jason, babe, in line. So they go out to him and they go, hey, man, don't wait here. Come, come with us. So he kind of, like, obliges out of being polite, and he goes. They bring him into the store and he gets a phone early. Well, wouldn't you know, the Daily and Daily Mail or whoever, paparazzi are taking photos of people lining up, and the story comes out, jason Bateman skips line.

[Will Arnett]

Jumped the line. I love that.

[Sean Hayes]

The story. The story's out before I get back to the Office, right, Willie? I got to the office and it was already online.

[Jason Bateman]

Dude, wait a minute. Hey, man, I was. I was getting jumped.

[Lionel Richie]

But wait a minute.

[Will Arnett]

Here's the best part of the story. That you didn't want the free phone sent to your house because you wanted to be a real person. Then you went in the line and you got out of the line anyway.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, these nice people were like, hey. And there was a photographer in the bushes. It was taking pictures of me anyway, like in line. And so I probably should have put two and two.

[Jason Bateman]

God, it was one of the best. Honestly, it felt like such a victory to me.

[Sean Hayes]

And then the next year that they issued a phone. Our nice person at Apple called us and said, hey, so we want to send you a new phone. And we had a staff meeting with, I think it was Tim Cook at the time. And he said, hey, everybody, let's not pull another Bateman. Make sure we get the VIP phones out.

[Lionel Richie]

No way.

[Sean Hayes]

I became a verb at the.

[Jason Bateman]

I love that. I love that PR ups so at Apple are now called bait.

[Sean Hayes]

No, but they did everything right. It was me that, that said, no thanks, you're gonna do well.

[Will Arnett]

And, and now on our now we have the best cell phones. We can listen to our podcast on our cell phone and use smartless mobile.

[Jason Bateman]

You can use smart mobile? Why wouldn't you? Because you're gonna get less.

[Sean Hayes]

Wait, what's smartless mobile? What do you mean?

[Jason Bateman]

I don't understand. Well, you have a provider. Let's say you have a provider. You have whoever.

[Sean Hayes]

Like ATT versus Big.

[Jason Bateman]

I guess if you had T mobile.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, yeah, but why not save money.

[Jason Bateman]

But why not? Yeah, so why not save money? Cheaper. It's less than half.

[Sean Hayes]

What if I want to keep my number?

[Jason Bateman]

No problem. Why are you so. Why are you so tired and beleaguered?

[Sean Hayes]

I feel like on the outside chance people haven't heard our pitch. I guess I'm trying to not be annoying.

[Will Arnett]

We keep our number. You can keep your numberless mobile. You can cut your cell phone bill in half. More than half.

[Sean Hayes]

A quick sign up. Is that what it is?

[Jason Bateman]

Yes. You can get the app. Jason, you like apps?

[Sean Hayes]

I love it. We have a smartless mobile is the best. Go sign up everybody. Okay, let's get to our guest.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay. Our guest. By the way, speaking of the best, I have brought today, an absolute heavyweight. I'm so excited about this. This guy is a just bona fide decades long international superstar. Okay? He is unbelievable. He has won an Academy award, a Golden Globe, multiple Grammys. Academy, American Music Award things. He's written so many hit songs. He was in a band then he had an incredible solo career, everyone. And then he wrote songs for all the biggest stars and he wrote songs for himself and he had the hugest. He's one of the biggest record selling artists of all time. And I'm going to start to list some of his. Starting with his old band all the way through his other.

[Sean Hayes]

Sean, you better guess.

[Jason Bateman]

Easy sale on three times the lady still he wrote lady for you are. Yes. Endless love all night long. It's Lionel Richie. Oh, my God.

[Lionel Richie]

Wow.

[Sean Hayes]

Good morning, sir.

[Lionel Richie]

Good morning, guys. That, that was the, the, the hamming up of the opening was just amazing. Jason, the story about the cell phone is hilarious.

[Sean Hayes]

I know.

[Jason Bateman]

Listen, Lionel, we'd love to welcome the show, but more importantly, we'd love to get you signed up with Smartless Mobile.

[Will Arnett]

What do you.

[Sean Hayes]

Beautiful studio you've got there? Is that the recording studio?

[Lionel Richie]

This is the recording studio. This is the hideout down here. When I want to get totally away from everybody, the door is closed and don't.

[Sean Hayes]

You are the man. You've been the man for so long.

[Jason Bateman]

It is such an honor to have you, Mr. Lyto Richie, here on the show.

[Lionel Richie]

Why can we just say Jason, Sean and Will, you know, having the three of you in front of me right now is. And listening is just probably the trip of my life because, you know, I really admire the fact that your talent and you can kind of improv so seamlessly well.

[Sean Hayes]

But it's just drivel, you know, it's just talking. You know, you're about to get 50 minutes of it. Tuck in. Well, it's such an honor to have you. Such a pleasure to have you. So cool. You're here in Los Angeles.

[Lionel Richie]

Yes, I'm in Los Angeles, yes.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. And you've lived here how long? I feel like I know where your house is too.

[Will Arnett]

I know exactly where you are here.

[Lionel Richie]

I've been here since 1981.

[Will Arnett]

In the same house?

[Lionel Richie]

Not in the same house. No, no, no, no, no, no. I'm doing the. I did the start off in the guest house, then you go from there to the, to the main house and then from there. Okay, I'm out of here. So, you know, a couple of rentals here and there, and then finally ended up here. Beautiful.

[Sean Hayes]

Where did you, where did you start?

[Lionel Richie]

Where were you born?

[Sean Hayes]

Where'd you get raised?

[Lionel Richie]

Tuskegee, Alabama. Right on the campus. Really?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. So. That's right. So I grew up on the campus in Tuskegee.

[Lionel Richie]

Right on the campus. It was. Well, I shouldn't say right on. It was across the street from the gates of the campus. And since then, the campus has surrounded my place, my house.

[Sean Hayes]

And your house is not your parents. Are they still around? Are they still witnesses?

[Lionel Richie]

No, no, no. I house. Mom, dad, and grandma. But the memories are right there, still in the house. I still own the house.

[Jason Bateman]

Do you really?

[Lionel Richie]

The house is still on the campus, and people pass by and go, there's Lionel Richie's house.

[Sean Hayes]

Have they offered to buy the house? Do they want to absorb it and build a new building right there for.

[Lionel Richie]

You know, exactly why I want to hang onto it, because, you know, every time they say, lylong, that's a wonderful spot, and I go, mm, tear the house down and put another building up.

[Sean Hayes]

We're not gonna do that.

[Lionel Richie]

But actually, I grew up right across the street from the president of university's house.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, my God.

[Lionel Richie]

And then as time went on, they moved to the big mansion at the other end of the campus. But, I mean, for the longest time, I was there with the.

[Will Arnett]

What campus?

[Lionel Richie]

I don't.

[Will Arnett]

What is it?

[Sean Hayes]

The University of Alabama?

[Lionel Richie]

No, no, no. Tuskegee University.

[Sean Hayes]

Tuskegee University.

[Jason Bateman]

And what was your connection? Did you have a connection to Tuskegee University?

[Lionel Richie]

Did I have a connection. Oh, my God. Guys, it was Tuskegee Airmen. This is my. The moms and dads of my whole little group. Number two, believe it or not, on the deed of the house, you've got the Washington family, who had the house before my grandmother had it, and so. And grandfather. So it was one of those things where it kind of started right there on the campus with everything else. And, of course, in 1923 is when they received the house. And I didn't show up at that time. I must assure you that I keep telling my kids, I don't know Abraham Lincoln, but it was pretty late after that that I showed up. But it was wonderful, man, just to have that history in the house.

[Jason Bateman]

And you went to college there, right? You went to Tuskegee?

[Lionel Richie]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

And you went to Tuskegee, and that's where you kind of got your. That's where you got your start. I remember reading this thing you were saying, I want to mention that your book is coming out. I want to say, September 30th, your book. Truly.

[Lionel Richie]

You named it?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Lionel Richie]

Oh, that.

[Jason Bateman]

And your first book.

[Lionel Richie]

My first book. Listen, I'm telling you, if it takes me the rest of my life. Have you ever done a book before?

[Sean Hayes]

No.

[Jason Bateman]

He's never read a book.

[Sean Hayes]

No, never. It's left to right, top to bottom, right.

[Will Arnett]

I'm gonna read him a book later on tonight. It's gonna be awesome.

[Lionel Richie]

So let me just tell you that it is painful because they keep asking you, and then what happens? And then you want to kind of go, okay, I don't want to talk about that anymore.

[Sean Hayes]

How was your recall? Because I figured my recall is going to be so bad, I'm going to have to be in some sort of hypnosis to pull it all out.

[Lionel Richie]

You know, it all kind of worked out where, you know, the stories kind of fell into place. You know, once you. Between the band, between growing up in Tuskegee, between various episodes of that, and then, of course, meeting and greeting around the world, it's. It kind of fell into place, man. You start calling off names, and then the next name shows up, and it takes a minute. Every once in a while, you have to make a phone call and go, hey, who was that guy? What was that lady's name? You have to call somebody that remembers.

[Sean Hayes]

Who was the most helpful.

[Jason Bateman]

Jason does that at home. When his kids walk by, he says to his wife, who's that? Yeah. Which was that?

[Sean Hayes]

Was there one person that was the most helpful for you in recalling some of these things?

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah, I have a couple of homeboys still in Tuskegee. It calls off the names of everybody in life. Milton Carver Davis was one of them, and Harold Boone was another one. And they just kind of said, oh, no, that's the guy's name. And then, believe it or not, Ronald lapred from the Commodore has helped me out tremendously. Cause he kept saying, no, that's not what happened. And then he starts calling it. Cause, you know, as time goes on, it becomes, yeah, and I did this. And remember, we did that. And I go, rich, Rich, you weren't there. Right, right, right.

[Jason Bateman]

You're making up memories. You're, like, creating memories.

[Lionel Richie]

You know, I'm creating my. And remember, I came on stage and I told the crowd, rich, you weren't.

[Sean Hayes]

Is that. Is that. Is that your name? Yeah. Is that what people closest to you call you, Rich?

[Lionel Richie]

No, they call me actually. Skeet is my nickname.

[Sean Hayes]

Really?

[Lionel Richie]

Skeet?

[Sean Hayes]

Where'd that come from?

[Lionel Richie]

Believe it or not. Okay. This is part of that painful book. Okay, so what happens? You know, your father walks in the room, looks at the baby, and he goes, go on.

[Jason Bateman]

Sorry. Hang on one second, Sean. Father is a guy.

[Lionel Richie]

Sorry. Yeah. So he walks in. There's the baby, you know, and most guys Would say, okay, yo, Killa or Bruce or, you know, come here, give me a rough name. My dad goes, my Skiboo. And I said. I even questioned him. I said, dude, of all the names, why Ski Boo? He said, it just came out that way. Well, anyway, I'm now in high school. I carry Ski Boo all the way through elementary school, which is painful. Painful, I tell you. And then I get to high school, and the guy said, you're going to get killed in high school with Ski Boo.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Lionel Richie]

So we're going to change your name to Skeet. And that was it. Wow.

[Will Arnett]

And then it was Skeet. It was never Lionel or.

[Lionel Richie]

No, no. Yeah. Formality.

[Jason Bateman]

I like Skeet. That's kind of cool.

[Lionel Richie]

Let me give you the other name so you'll know anytime you have a guy named Fungus, another guy named Cookie man, you follow me? So Skeet. I got away clean with Skeet.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay.

[Sean Hayes]

Those are your two other best friends?

[Lionel Richie]

Oh, no. We had P Head. We got some names. P Head and Sonny Boy, we got some names.

[Jason Bateman]

What a crew.

[Lionel Richie]

But believe it or not, can I tell you. Can I tell you, these guys went on to become great lawyers. One guy is a biomedical nu. Nuclear engineer for NASA. I mean, come on. You know.

[Jason Bateman]

Obviously.

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah. So he was the smartest guy in the stupid group. So the rest of the guys.

[Sean Hayes]

Wait, so getting back to Recall, how good were you at keeping all your memorabilia, news clippings and pictures and things like that? Good.

[Lionel Richie]

Got them all.

[Sean Hayes]

You do?

[Will Arnett]

Really?

[Jason Bateman]

You do?

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

And how did you know to do that?

[Sean Hayes]

Was that a mom or a dad thing? That. That was like, son, keep your stuff.

[Lionel Richie]

It was mom, dad, grandma, cousins, aunts, uncles. They kept every clipping. And as they kind of said, I'm wrapping up the house here.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Lionel Richie]

So scrapbook after scrapbook after scrapbook. We've got volumes of the first time I did American Bandstand, the first time of this and the first time I played it. They got it all, you know.

[Sean Hayes]

And you got it in the book there, too. You got pictures of all that stuff.

[Lionel Richie]

You know what? That's in the. Believe it or Not. That's the second book that's coming. Wow.

[Sean Hayes]

Smart.

[Lionel Richie]

Wow.

[Will Arnett]

Let me. Let me ask Will and Jay, do you guys. Do you guys do it, or do you have family members that archive your stuff?

[Sean Hayes]

No, my mom was pretty good about it, and I think I know where some of that stuff is. I've got. But I think.

[Jason Bateman]

Have you, Sean?

[Sean Hayes]

I've kind of.

[Will Arnett]

Scotty does every single thing I do.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, that's so great.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Lionel Richie]

That's cool. Believe it or not, you want to.

[Jason Bateman]

Lose living with single white male.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Do you have candles under it with one eye open? Wait, wait. I want to get. I want to get into skeet, if I may. No, I'm kidding. I want to get into. So you start.

[Lionel Richie]

That scared me, by the way. Okay.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, I'm sure. Sure. I love that you. You started. So I read some excerpts from your book, and you were talking about. You were. You. You. You owned a saxophone. And you don't. And you didn't describe yourself as a player. You describe yourself as a blower. And these guys were like, hey, man.

[Lionel Richie]

No, no, I hope I didn't write blower in the book. No, no, I'm.

[Sean Hayes]

That's the title of the book, am I right?

[Lionel Richie]

No, I said saxophone holder.

[Jason Bateman]

Holder. Holder. Okay.

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah. It's a big difference. It makes a big difference.

[Will Arnett]

Mind blowing.

[Sean Hayes]

It's still a tricky title.

[Jason Bateman]

Holder.

[Sean Hayes]

Blower.

[Jason Bateman]

But you just kind of had it. You didn't really know how to play. You kind of were able to. You had a musical sensibility to you, and you were able to mimic from stuff that you heard. Is that true?

[Lionel Richie]

By ear. And that not only saxophone, but by piano as well. I cannot read or write music to that point. Wow. Wow. That's amazing to me. So what makes it all kind of weird is that when you can pick up a horn and once you figure out you can now play along with. With Sonny Stitt, or you play along with Coltrane, or you play along with. And you go, okay. And then when you sit down to the piano, you know, it's. You know, once you find out that some of the greatest artists in the world cannot read or write music, you know, there's smokey, there's Paul McCartney. Once you start going down that list of folks, right. You know, it's a pretty rare fraternity sorority, you know, now.

[Will Arnett]

So did you ever learn or want to learn the names, of course, like the 575 or the 164 or the Sharp 7th or whatever that.

[Lionel Richie]

Well, no, I can say it. I can. You know, I can talk about it. But the point is, my problem was ADD or adhd, which we didn't know back then, right? So.

[Will Arnett]

Da da da da da da da da da da da da da da.

[Lionel Richie]

Okay, that's great. Now try to read that on a page with dots. So tracking was the worst thing in the world for me. It wasn't that I couldn't read it. It's just I couldn't read it. Fast enough to play it. Right.

[Jason Bateman]

Interesting.

[Lionel Richie]

So when you get in a room, I just forgot all.

[Will Arnett]

Can you read a chord chart?

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah, forget about it.

[Will Arnett]

Forget it. You can't read a chord chart which.

[Lionel Richie]

Just says this chord, then this chord, then this chord. I can get it done faster by standing in a room with a group of musicians. Hum it to them.

[Will Arnett]

Wow, that's amazing.

[Lionel Richie]

And they are so gifted that what you do is. By the time I finish the hum, they've already played it six times over.

[Will Arnett]

Well, that's what I'm blown away by. All of the hit songs that we all know through all of these years that came out of your head like, it's just fascinating to think about. How did those melodies and those things come into your head? It's just amazing.

[Lionel Richie]

That's the weirdness of the God gift, you know what I'm saying? I look at actors, I look at comedians, I look at and I go, you know, how did you put that together in your head? And sometimes they say, that was improv. Half of that was this.

[Will Arnett]

But how do you explain it, though? Do you just hum whatever you're feeling for me?

[Lionel Richie]

For me. If I told you there's a radio station playing right now and all I have to do is tap over into it now, it's only 12 notes. Here's the magic of this. It's not like I can go cheat on a lot of words and stuff. There's only 12 notes here, guys. And so what happens is you have to know all you need is four chords and that's a whole album, you know, Believe it or not. So what happens is just knowing what notes to put together. And believe it or not, I can hear that now.

[Will Arnett]

That's amazing.

[Lionel Richie]

You know what I'm saying?

[Sean Hayes]

And we will be right back.

[Jason Bateman]

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[Lionel Richie]

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[Will Arnett]

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[Sean Hayes]

Have you enjoyed how it's changed over the years in your own head? Because any natural gift does morph, sometimes to the better, sometimes to the worse as your taste evolves and as you allow yourself to be influenced by things that you like. And as we get older and tempo and all that stuff. Have you enjoyed that process, how your music has changed a bit?

[Lionel Richie]

In love with it? You know, what happens is, remember, it's all texture, it's all sounds. It's, you know, it's all about Sonics. So when you can. I started off probably about the first five years, six years on a grand piano. Yeah, got it. And then after probably Penny lover, probably after that, never played that again grand piano because technology came in and you can get sounds on the keyboard.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Lionel Richie]

So from that point on, I never played the same keyboard twice.

[Jason Bateman]

Do you, do you do you remember moments like. Like Sean was saying, like, where the songs come from stuff. Do you have. You must have memories of, like, when you first started to write hum or come. Come up with, you know, endless Love, let's say, or All Night Long. Or would you remember, like, were you standing in the kitchen and you were like, you know, getting a glass of milk or. You know what I mean?

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah. It's so many stories about. I'll use. I'll use probably all night long. I'll use hello as the perfect example. You know, I wrote again. My co producer, James Carmichael, was late for the. For the little writing session we were having. And he walks in the door, and I'm just playing on the piano. And I said, hello, is it me you're looking for? And I played the chords.

[Will Arnett]

No way.

[Lionel Richie]

I was waiting for him to say, yeah, I'm here. Okay, let's get started. He said, finish that song.

[Jason Bateman]

Wow.

[Sean Hayes]

So you already had. So you already had the melody and the lyrics just came as kind of a joke to.

[Lionel Richie]

All I had was, hello, is it me you're looking for? Which is the corniest thing I could ever think about in life.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, my God. It's so great, though.

[Lionel Richie]

So if you really want to know the backstory of this, which I will tell you, the backstory to this is, I didn't like it. I hated it. And he kept saying, finish it, Finish it. And I said, james, this is. I'll be the laughing stock of the business. Who's gonna write a song called hello, is it me you're looking for? And so, enough. I finished the song, and then I fell in love with it. And he hated it because he was going, okay. Cause he put the strings on it. It was very heavy, heavy, heavy. So are you ready for this? We threw it off the album, and I wrote a song called Truly to replace it, of course. Yeah. No way. And then, of course, the next album, we said, well, let's go back and put that thing on. And that became the national anthem of As I walk around the World. Hello, Lionel. Hello.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, it's amazing. Of course. Although Truly. Truly was the number one single, too.

[Lionel Richie]

So Truly was the first, believe it or not, Grammy.

[Sean Hayes]

Wow.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, wow.

[Lionel Richie]

After all these songs, everyone said, well, you won the Grammy. No, no, no, no. You go to the Grammys and you just kind of sign up for your seat, but they don't give you anything for the first 10 years of your life. And then finally you walk up one day and they call off Truly. And I said, whoa, that's pretty cool. And that was the beginning of the ride.

[Sean Hayes]

Is that often the way that it has worked for you, where you come up with, you write a bunch of melodies and then you write a bunch of lyrics and you sort of find what lyrics go with. What melodies are they that separate?

[Lionel Richie]

My mother was an English teacher, so I caught hell just trying to go to school every day and using the proper English. So mom, can I go somewhere? I don't know, can you? That kind of situation. So you know, my problem with trying to write lyrics was. Or should I say write a song is what's the subject? So whatever the subject is, that's the most important thing. It's called the hook. So if you write all night long or you write hello or whatever the case may be, then if you have the hook, you'll write. Now the verses. It's only four lines per verse, but you have to go back and put that together. My problem was I would never write the verses until the Commodore said, we like it because there's nothing worse than finishing a song and you get halfway through it. Now you spent your whole life on this thing and all of a sudden you say, we hate it. Next.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, right, right.

[Lionel Richie]

So I would just go, here's the hook.

[Jason Bateman]

I'm not gonna put any more work in.

[Lionel Richie]

I'm not putting any more work.

[Sean Hayes]

But then the actual music for said lyrics just comes much later. You just figure out what melody might match this story.

[Lionel Richie]

It's da da, it's all Dada's. And occasionally you go, perfect example is lady, you know, I'm your knight in shining armor and I love you. Da da da da da da da da da da da. That's that.

[Will Arnett]

Uh huh. You just don't know the word.

[Lionel Richie]

You follow me? You know, penny lover, it's almost like.

[Will Arnett]

A call and answer.

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah, you just kind of throw it out there. Now there's some, what we call God's words, which is while you're writing the song, some mumbles come out in real words.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Lionel Richie]

Well, you want to hold those as much as possible because that's the true essence of where the other side was trying to direct you. Really.

[Sean Hayes]

But what about the great luck that your ear has such incredible taste in what a melody sounds like? And you also have a voice that is incredible as well. Like you've got both of these enormous talents. It's just.

[Jason Bateman]

It's a perfect storm.

[Sean Hayes]

There are a few others, but not many.

[Lionel Richie]

My God, you have just done my gratitude mantra. First thing I get up in the morning, the Last thing I say at night, how did it ever happen to me? Holy crap. I mean, you know, I mean, you think about very serious things in life, and you don't really think about it. Someone said years ago, when you're 19, 20, 25, and you win Wimbledon and you go, wow, you know what? We going to eat tonight? And then you turn 50 and you go, I want Wimbledon. You know what I'm saying? Well, it's only looking back that you realize, holy crap. That's right. When was that all for you?

[Sean Hayes]

I'm so glad that you. We ask people that sometimes on the show. Do you allow yourself to pat yourself on the back and appreciate where you are, where you've been, where you're going? All that stuff, it sounds like. Got such a healthy relationship and perspective on your life and your gifts, and I was gonna. That was gonna be. My next question is, you know, you just. You seem like such a lovely man.

[Lionel Richie]

How could you tell that to my kids? Please.

[Jason Bateman]

I would suspect. I would suspect. Jb if I can. If I can jump onto your question before you finish it and just say. What I noticed is you mentioned early on that you got all your old buddies back and where you grew up and that you're really still in touch with. I forget. It was fungus.

[Will Arnett]

No, no.

[Lionel Richie]

Oh, yeah. Fungus. Fungus is among us. Yes.

[Jason Bateman]

Fungus. And fungus. And all these. And all these guys. And. And the. And I think the idea that you stay so in tune and in touch with them probably has a lot to do with giving, getting their perspective. Well, that you have.

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah. The beautiful part about this now, when I tell you how long we've known each other, then you're really going to know how strange it is and wonderful at the same time. I've known these guys since preschool, elementary school, high school, college. No way.

[Will Arnett]

Wow, that's really cool.

[Lionel Richie]

I mean, honestly. And by the way, every month we have a Zoom call together.

[Jason Bateman]

Really?

[Lionel Richie]

And we talk about. Just like you're sitting here talking. Now we've got Zoom calls, and we're sitting there talking about what you're doing and what's happening and who's doing what and what hurts you.

[Sean Hayes]

Sorry, shiny, but my question was gonna be really more about, like, how many times did you. Was it ever tempting because we live in such a permissive culture and business? You know, like, you're allowed to be your worst part often.

[Will Arnett]

Right.

[Sean Hayes]

And was it. Were you conscious of making the choice to stay as. Sorry to use the word again, lovely, as you. As you are? You know, like, it could. Because it's, it's easier. It's to be lazy and to be nasty and to allow people to sort of, you know, clean up after you and care for it. Like, do you know what I mean? Like there's just, it's a choice to stay kind. And I wonder if that would. Their struggles with that.

[Lionel Richie]

Well, I'll be honest with you, I kind of grew up in a magical family a little bit here because I used to go back and ask my grandmother every day, I said, grandma, how do you have so much wisdom, you know so much about life, but you've not been around the world? I've been around the world. How are you able to hold on to your core? And she said, if you learn how to treat people right at home, the rest of the world is easy. An asshole is an asshole, you know, Period. And so again, we're in this business, it's called the entertainment business. Business. We run across enough every single day.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Lionel Richie]

So we kind of, if you. The motto that I have, if you can spot one, you make sure you don't act like him or her.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. We came across an asshole recently and let me tell you something, I'm not joking. And we, the three of us sort of appreciated getting that contrast of seeing that grade A A hole in a way.

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Gave us the, gave us the perspective. And you know, it's funny, I was saying to my, my, one of my sons, my 15 year old today I was driving to work and I said, hey man, I said, we're just talking about the go moving through life. And so. And I said, you know what, dude? If the only piece of advice I can give you is no matter what, if you keep pushing out love, even in moments where you feel like you're not getting what you get if you push it out, it creates a world where you get it back from the universe a million times. So love on people, be kind to people when you run to talk to people. Not just here at home, we have a loving environment, but also out in the world and it will come back and your experience and don't do it with the hope of getting a result. Just do it.

[Will Arnett]

That's right.

[Lionel Richie]

I had the wonderful pleasure of watching.

[Will Arnett]

We have to go. Sorry. That was the last. Kidding.

[Lionel Richie]

No, go on, go on, go on. I had the pleasure of watching my dad, you know, he was one of those guys that, you know, I just couldn't figure him out at the beginning. He was, would walk up to people and you know, you could tell that he was a lover of people. And so he would come home some days and bring a man home to the house. And he would. Bert, put on. That's my mother, Alberta. Bert, put on another plate. This is Bill. Bill, Bert, Lionel, Deborah. And so he said, I'll be back. I'm going upstairs for a minute. And so here's the guy at the table. Bill. And so. Okay. And so my mother starts asking questions. So did.

[Will Arnett]

Were you.

[Lionel Richie]

Do you work with Lionel? I'm a junior, so my dad's Lionel.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay.

[Lionel Richie]

So have you worked with. Are you working with Lionel? No. No, ma'. Am. Were you in the military with Lionel? No, ma'. Am. Are you all friends from where he grew up? No, ma'. Am. Well, where did you meet Lionel?

[Will Arnett]

Why are you here?

[Lionel Richie]

He said, well, I just met him at Kroger's. So now my mother leaves the table to go upstairs, ask my dad.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, who the hell is this guy?

[Lionel Richie]

Who is this guy? Right? And of course, Deborah and I, my sister, we go upstairs to hear this conversation because we want to know, too. And so what the conversation was, he's going to do a job interview tomorrow, and he needs a suit. And my dad is reaching in the closet to get a suit that fits him and a tie and stuff. That's amazing. And my mother would say this argument, well, Lionel, it's one of your favorite suits. He says, I can get another suit. The man needs a suit to look the part.

[Jason Bateman]

Lionel, I love that so much.

[Sean Hayes]

You've had a great example your whole life.

[Jason Bateman]

I was just telling somebody this story. It reminds me, so forgive me, but it's just. I love that. And my grandfather, my mom's dad, who I was really close. I was just telling somebody left the last couple days of the story. He was a great guy, and I was really, really close with him. And he used to bring guys back. He.

[Lionel Richie]

He.

[Jason Bateman]

He'd bring. He help out. He wasn't an alcoholic. He'd bring guys back from halfway house and. And my. Make my grandmother bring them. Make him a meal. And he'd. He'd let them work, he'd pay them, and then he. And he talked to them. He died at 97.

[Lionel Richie]

Wow.

[Jason Bateman]

Everybody who were his friends, his peers, had died long years before. And I was just saying the remarkable thing was that church was packed.

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Cause he reached. He did stuff for people, young people, all the time. I couldn't believe it. I was like, this guy's 97.

[Lionel Richie]

This church is packed. Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

That's so cool.

[Jason Bateman]

You know, and it just.

[Lionel Richie]

That's a testament to his whole Life. Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

In college, I would bring guys home and no questions.

[Jason Bateman]

Let's go to a break really quick.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah. Totally different story.

[Lionel Richie]

And I come back. I want to come back to this. This. I want to come back.

[Will Arnett]

No suits. I was giving. No suits.

[Jason Bateman]

Wait, no, you were taking off suits. Hey, listen, Lionel, can you. Can you. Ripping them off. Can we.

[Will Arnett]

You started.

[Jason Bateman]

Your first band was the Commodore. Your first big band was the Com. Can you talk a little bit about your experience, how that happened and then how you gradu. You know, gradually moved away and went on a solo career? What. Just walk us through that a little bit, if you don't mind.

[Lionel Richie]

Well, yeah, I was going to say that's a whole session by itself. Well, okay. I'm back in school, and it's my freshman year, and of course I run across this guy on campus, and he says, you know, do you play any instruments? And I said, well, yeah, I'm a fabulous horn holder. You know, I didn't tell him that I brought the horn to school to learn how to play it, but he didn't ask that, so I didn't tell him.

[Will Arnett]

Horn holder.

[Lionel Richie]

So, you know, he said, well, we're starting a band. This is going to be a freshman talent show. And basically what the freshman talent show was is that all the seniors and upperclassmen would come and in and laugh at the. At the freshman. So, you know, we put this band together and believe it or not, at the freshman talent show, we killed it.

[Jason Bateman]

Killed it.

[Lionel Richie]

We just surprised everybody.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, you guys just had chemistry. Like you just.

[Lionel Richie]

Just vibe. Yeah, that's wild. You know, and back then, all you had to play was James Brown and you got it, you know.

[Sean Hayes]

So you guys covered a few. A few songs.

[Jason Bateman]

We.

[Lionel Richie]

We did nothing but covers. That's, you know. And so the beautiful part about this was there was a guy in the audience who was in a band called the Jays, which is the seniors, the greatest band in the world on campus. And so this guy. These guys were graduating. It was two guys that are going to stay around because they wanted to put a new band together. Michael Gilbert and Jimmy Johnson. And the next thing we got, a couple of guys got phone calls. Hey, can you guys stop by? We want to talk to you about putting a band together. Well, to get a call from them was like, it, right? And so we put the band together. Next thing we know, we have a band called the Commodores. That's just nuts.

[Will Arnett]

That's just nuts.

[Lionel Richie]

We played every sorority house, every frat house, every campus from here to there.

[Jason Bateman]

And then how did the songwriting. How did the songwriting start? So you start. You're doing covers, and all of a sudden you're like, hey, we should write our own tunes.

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah, well, that's a whole story. I mean, it's good, though, because, you know, we could cover everything. You want Sly Stone? We got Sly Stone. What do you want? Temptations. We're Temptations. You want Three Dog Night? We got Three Dog Night. Whatever you need, we can play it. And then it got to the point where we're trying now to figure out, okay, I think it's time for us to put a record out, right? It's gonna happen. And so we started doing auditions. Well, we went to one audition that changed the whole trajectory of what we're gonna do, and that was Philly International Gamblin Huff. And we went in and we played every song. We killed it. It's bam. We nailed it. And right after that, something happened. The guy came back and he said, guys, you all killed it. We said, right? We got a recording contract, right? He said, no. He said what we were thinking the whole time you were playing was, because, by the way, you sound just like Sly Stone. You sound just like the Timps. You sound just like the. Who do you guys. What do you sound like? Wow. And I said, ah. He said, I mean. I mean, we just waiting on what you guys sound like. That was the mission of. The only way we find out who we are is we gotta start writing. Right?

[Sean Hayes]

And then did you guys sit down and say, okay, well, who. What songs do we really like covering? Which are the ones we really explode with? You know? Is it more of a Sly sound? Is it more of a.

[Lionel Richie]

Well, that's when the individuality came in. That's when the individuals started catching up. Some guys loved funk. Some guys loved I'm a James Taylor nut. I was a Carole King thing. You know, I was a. You know, I could name it, you know, So I was over there. Then I realized, okay, I'm a Stevie person. I'm a Marvin person. You know, that was my wheelhouse. And then as time went on, okay, now I'm an Elton person. Now I'm a. You know, I was in that Piano man kind of thing.

[Sean Hayes]

Sure.

[Lionel Richie]

And so I would kind of bring in those kind of songs. Now, the joke with all of this was, if you want to get a record on the Commodore album, don't try to do anything uptempo. Because everybody had 10 uptempo songs. So I figured my niche, okay, I'll bring the only slow Song they have, guaranteed I have a record on them.

[Sean Hayes]

Because you got to come down a little bit to go back up again when you're together.

[Lionel Richie]

That in the album.

[Sean Hayes]

Gotcha.

[Lionel Richie]

So the mid tempo. I got the mid tempo. Killed it. I got it. All right. And as time went on, Brick House, we wrote that together as a group. But mainly the mid section of this whole thing was covered by. Okay, I gotcha. Yeah, yeah. So the only thing happening was when the slow song came out. That was the hit.

[Jason Bateman]

Wow. And then. And then in that time when you were writing those songs, when did you. Cause you also wrote some song like you wrote. You wrote for Kenny Rogers. You wrote famously. You wrote Lady. I mean, you did. Yeah. God bless. When did you start writing for other artists outside of your own, you know?

[Lionel Richie]

Well, Kenny was an interesting story because of the fact that it was not supposed to be for Kenny. It was supposed to be for the Commodores. Yet another slow song for the Commodores.

[Jason Bateman]

He's doing air quotes, by the way, just for the listeners.

[Lionel Richie]

Thank you. I forgot nobody. And so what happens from here? The guys walk in and announce no more slow songs. Okay. So that eliminates the brother right here. Gone. And so now I decided I'm gonna put out a religious song called Jesus Love. So I went left of that and put out a church song. Meanwhile, I got a phone call from Kenny Rogers. Do you have one of those songs, man, I just need. Right? And I said, kenny, I have it, but I don't have time. We're gonna go on tour, and I don't really have time to do this, but I'll call you when I get back.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Lionel Richie]

Two weeks later, the drummer falls off of his motorcycle, if you can believe drummers and motorcycles. And I called Kenny back and said.

[Jason Bateman]

I'm back from tour.

[Lionel Richie]

I got it. Right?

[Will Arnett]

I got it.

[Lionel Richie]

And so the song was called Baby instead of Lady. That's all I had. Baby, I'm your knight in shining armor and I love you. That's it. And I walk into the studio with him, and I'm used to pitching for Commodores.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, right.

[Lionel Richie]

So he said, so where's the song you got for me? I said, baby, no, no, no. Excuse me. He told me how much he loved his wife. And at that time, she said, he's a father full. She's a lady. I mean, a real lady. Okay, now what's the name of your song? I said, lady Working baby. Come on. You got a breaking word.

[Will Arnett]

I love that. You know, When I was 24 years old, I toured with Kenny Rogers. I was a Christmas elf in his Christmas tour.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, you played a little elf and you'd come out, you'd bring him up.

[Will Arnett]

That's right.

[Sean Hayes]

The microphone in a little.

[Jason Bateman]

Sean, just give us a little taste. Sean, just give us.

[Will Arnett]

Well, we'd open ours. The Christmas session with we need a little Christmas right this very minute. Handles in the window. And then. I was always high. Like every show. I was high in my mind. But Kenny was really nice. He was a really good guy.

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah. That's all.

[Will Arnett]

I have many, many stories, but not from.

[Lionel Richie]

I know. He's that guy. You could have stories forever. I could talk forever.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. You guys were good friends for a long time. Is that right?

[Lionel Richie]

For any.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, really? Oh, that's great.

[Lionel Richie]

He was nice. Not only my friend, but my. My. One of my biggest mentors, really.

[Sean Hayes]

We'll be right back.

[Will Arnett]

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[Jason Bateman]

You wrote a lot of songs like All Night Long and dancing on the scene. A lot of sort of party. Were you part of a party vibe.

[Lionel Richie]

With the party animal? What are you talking about?

[Jason Bateman]

Were you?

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah, you know what's so funny? I mean, I mean, everyone keeps thinking, you know, Lionel, it's really nice because you're such a sweet guy. Listen, man, I hung out with p. Funk, okay? Ms. Parliament Funkadelics. I mean, you know, when you're in Rick James, I mean, come on, guys, that's the class.

[Sean Hayes]

Where were these years? So you'd left Alabama? Are we in Los Angeles now? During a lot of this, the Commodore.

[Lionel Richie]

Stuff, I would say from 7070 to probably 75 was like everybody's gonna die or everybody's gonna live through it. You know what I'm saying?

[Sean Hayes]

This was in LA or we.

[Lionel Richie]

It's across the country, L.A. new York. You know, we were all touring, but the only guys that didn't make it till late was the Commodores. P. Funk was already in motion three years before we made it. And so, you know, Bootsy Collins. I mean, think about this. This is an era where. Where to get the phone call and say, I'm sorry that so and so died. That was everyday occurrence, you know. But at the same time, you know, you ask the question, how did I get through it? You know, it's just the fear of dying, you know, because that's what's at the other end of everything you want to try there. But it was such an amazing period because you got a chance to see either what you want to do or what you shouldn't do, or, you know. Cause what's the end result? You're going to die. So not too much to think about.

[Will Arnett]

I wanted to ask you. You know, I watch a lot of documentaries, and one of the best ones I've ever seen my whole life was the making of We Are the World. And I know that people probably come up to you now because it just came out like a year ago or two years ago.

[Lionel Richie]

God, time is flying. Yeah, it was one year ago.

[Jason Bateman]

Tracy should know that. Lionel, you wrote that with Michael Jackson.

[Will Arnett]

Jackson, Right, right. And as I'm watching, I'm sure. I'm so sorry to like, bug you about it, but I just.

[Lionel Richie]

Please bug me. Not sorry.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah. It's just incredible that you put you with Quincy, put that group of people together at a time when there were no cell phones, no computers, no nothing. It was literally just phone calls. And I hope they call back. And then I hope they show up.

[Lionel Richie]

I hope they show up.

[Will Arnett]

And they did. And it's one of the most famous songs in the history of the world, you know. What was that like, taking that? I mean, it's a massive mountain to climb.

[Lionel Richie]

There's such a wonderful feeling of naive. There's such a wonderful feeling of, you don't know. It's gonna be a disaster, you know? Cause there's a certain time in your life when you go, this is gonna be the greatest thing in the world, you know? And you just hang on to it, you know? And by the way, when we finish this song, we're gonna save the world. We're gonna wipe out hunger. I mean, think about this. We're all there to wipe out hunger, and this is gonna happen, happen. And then we start getting into the process of doing it after we finally get all these Fabulous artists together. I mean, that one night was a mountain and a half to climb. One night, One night, one night.

[Will Arnett]

What time did you finish? Like 5, 6, 7 in the morning.

[Lionel Richie]

It was 7 o'. Clock, 8 o' clock in the morning from. We didn't start until 2 because I was hosting the American Music Awards.

[Will Arnett]

American Music Awards, yeah.

[Lionel Richie]

So from 7 that morning. Morning. To go into rehearsal the following morning, I had rehearsal all the way up until 5 o'.

[Sean Hayes]

Clock.

[Lionel Richie]

For when we went on the air, we go on the air. I do the American Music Awards when it's over. Excuse me, by the way, in the middle of all this, won six of these crazy awards. And then at one o' clock in the morning, drive over to A and M studios and we've got shows. I mean, from that point on, I'm walking in the door and are they there or not?

[Sean Hayes]

And you have to explain the song probably cold to all of them, right? And this is gonna be your part. And this is gonna be your part.

[Lionel Richie]

All they had was if they got a cassette. Think about that. If you got the cassette, you're doing good, right? Most of them showed up just saying, okay, it's Quincy, Michael, Lionel, okay, I'll be there. Most of them didn't hear the song until they got there.

[Will Arnett]

Right?

[Lionel Richie]

So that just shows you're blind faith.

[Jason Bateman]

And you just stayed up all night. This is the mid-80s. I wonder how you guys stayed up all night. It's crazy to think, you know.

[Lionel Richie]

And the great words and the great words of my dear friend. Okay, now where are the drugs? Okay. We were talking about Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. He said, yes, that sounds good. Where were the drugs?

[Sean Hayes]

So then you were up for 24 hours, maybe 25, 26.

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that was called the. But we didn't fall apart until about 10, 11 o' clock the next day.

[Sean Hayes]

Day, yeah.

[Lionel Richie]

Because now it's over, it's out, the baby's born, you know, we have it, you know, now we, of course we got to put it together later. But the fact is, the hardest part was getting it on tape. That was the hardest part.

[Sean Hayes]

And then how was the. It's reach and its effect, the desired effect was accomplished. Yes. The money that it earned and the. The hunger that alleviated it was beyond.

[Lionel Richie]

Beyond. I remember calling Quincy on the phone and I said, okay. They were saying, you know, we raised 10 million.

[Jason Bateman]

Wow.

[Lionel Richie]

Okay, 10 million. We did 20 million. 20 million. Wow. Wow. We did 30 million. 30 million. 30 million in 1980. Wow. That's like forever, you know? So I remember calling Quincy after we got to a crazy number, and I said, quincy, did we say, we're going to give half the money away or all the money? And Quincy said, don't it do. Try it. Don't try it, Ski. Don't try it. They'll run us out of town.

[Jason Bateman]

Hey, Sean, Sean, out of curiosity, these days, what are you using to mop up hunger? Like, is it just a. I just.

[Will Arnett]

Use my shirt or whatever kind of what I'm wearing at the moment, like.

[Jason Bateman]

A sloppy Joe or.

[Lionel Richie]

You know. You know, it was an impossible time. You have to understand. Everything was. And. And I would say the next thing that made it work, no one saw it coming. Yeah, back then we didn't have cell phones, we didn't have live streaming, so no one saw this coming so we can sneak up on the world. And so they didn't.

[Jason Bateman]

I remember being a kid, I remember watching those. Watching you guys and watching Band Aid and all that stuff and thinking, like, seeing all these superstars together because we didn't have social media because we didn't have any of it. You were like, oh, my God. And there's Lyna Richie and there's Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen and Cyndi Lauper and, like. And you just go down. All these people and they're all in the same.

[Will Arnett]

It was a mind blow, get this.

[Lionel Richie]

All in the same room with no managers, no lawyers, no glam squad, no nothing. It was like. And I refer to it as your first day of elementary school, right? And your mother dropped you off, you know, and you gotta go in and kind of deal with the rest of the kids on your own. I mean, Dylan was about to have a heart attack. I mean, but Bob showed up, make that very clear, you know, Springsteen, we're all there. Stevie's, we're all there. Ray Charles, we're all there. And we had to kind of walk in and get used to each other.

[Sean Hayes]

Did you see a few of them at the AMAs earlier and say, hey, I'm expecting you in a few hours, Take it easy.

[Lionel Richie]

At the party, I saw a few, and the ones that were coming off tour made it difficult. In other words, Stevie. Okay, I got it, Michael. Okay. But is Dylan gonna show up? Yeah, I mean, he's not known for. Like, is he. He might. He might not. You know, Springsteen's coming from his last concert in Madison Square Gardens. Wow. Wow. But what am I saying? Stevie was in Philadelphia. Yeah, there's a snowstorm in Philadelphia. He might not get Out.

[Jason Bateman]

Wow.

[Lionel Richie]

Follow me. And by the way, we have no cell phone to know exactly where he is.

[Will Arnett]

Right.

[Sean Hayes]

But you've got contingencies as far as, like. Well, then Cyndi Lauper will sing this verse. Or.

[Lionel Richie]

I mean, it could have been the train wreck of life. Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

It was wild to see Waylon Jennings.

[Lionel Richie]

Walk out, by the way. It wasn't wild at all. Whaling was true to his. He was walking on ice just a little bit, because he was there because of Willie.

[Will Arnett]

Right.

[Lionel Richie]

Willie said, this is gonna be great. And everything was fine. You know, Good old boy, he's ready to go. And then we decided we're gonna put some Swahili in there with. Stevie walks up, and the point we said was, don't veer off course. Yeah, well, Stevie didn't get that memo. And so what happened was Stevie comes in and says, we need a little. Some African phrasing. Tutu wai no, no willy moingu. Right.

[Will Arnett]

I remember that.

[Lionel Richie]

Tutu wai no, no willy moingu. And we said that about three times. And Waylon said, ain't no good old boy ever sang no Swahili. I'm out of here.

[Will Arnett]

And he left.

[Jason Bateman]

No way.

[Lionel Richie]

And the joke was. The joke was, it wasn't Swahili, but it didn't matter. It didn't sound like good old boys. So I'm out.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Lionel Richie]

You know, but we all. When Willie. When Willie said, well, there goes. Well, there goes Waylon. I said, okay, wait, wait, wait.

[Jason Bateman]

I want to know what the. I want to know what the. Speaking of, like. Like this sort of like, just like, nonsense or words. There was all. I think it's an all night long where they go. There's that part.

[Lionel Richie]

It goes, oh, Tom Belite said the moya.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. What is that?

[Lionel Richie]

It's a wonderful phrase that has gone around the world that means absolutely nothing.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah. Say it again.

[Lionel Richie]

Say it again. No way. No way.

[Jason Bateman]

Say it. Say it.

[Lionel Richie]

Tambolite said the moya. Yeah, Jambo, Jambo. We tepate. Oh, we go in. O tambolite se moya. Right? Now, here's the joke. The joke was, I am now trying to find some Afro stuff, right? And so I go in and I go, let me call the un. I figured out. Call out. And I said, I need. How stupid I was. I need some phrasing from African dialect that says infectious partying. And the guy said, Lionel, there's 101 African dialects. I said, okay, so let me get this straight. So one part of Africa, he says, one tribe doesn't know what another Tribe is saying, okay, thank you very much. I hang up the phone, call my friend from Jamaica, I said, when Bob Marley says, yeah, boy, what is he saying? He says, absolutely nothing.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, it's like scatting.

[Lionel Richie]

You follow me? Okay, so Wa. Bough. Okay. Nobody knows what the hell that is. Okay, great. Thank you very much. Hung up the. The phone. Tamboliti said, license.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

That's amazing.

[Jason Bateman]

That is so awesome.

[Lionel Richie]

So people stopped me. I couldn't tell you for the first year. People would say to me, man, this is so great, man. You tie in. You tie in the mumbo with mumbo. Jumbo. Jumbo. And they're trying to tell me what it means. And I didn't want to tell them it means nothing, but I went along with it. Then finally, I just had to let the cat out of the bag.

[Will Arnett]

That's great. I love that.

[Sean Hayes]

How often are you getting out there, enjoying all the love that you deserve reserve from the crowds? Are you still enjoying getting out there and performing live? You do a bunch of dates still.

[Lionel Richie]

People ask me, you know, how long does your tour last? I said, it's been going on since 71. So how it works is very simple. We just came off of a European tour. 36, 34 dates from London to Germany, you name it. 0202. The big arenas and a couple of stadiums. And the fact is, it's still happening. I mean, the point is, it's still happening. So when you walk out on stage, there's 100,000 people. You walk out on stage, there's 40,000 people. And the beautiful part about where it is now is that when I forget the lyrics, I just go, come on. And here we go.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Lionel Richie]

And it gets to the point now where it's even getting to the point of the Rocky Horror Show. They know all the parts, and the next thing they do, they walk out with the mustache, the hair, the Afro, the whole thing. And those are the girls, those are the ladies. So it's really like coming to. I did Glastonbury, which is the whole center of the book. The book starts at Glastonbury and works back. And there's two hunters. Let me give you that name. 200,000 people dressed up like Lionel Richie. Wow. And it starts there and goes back to the beginning of. That's where the book is, what it's all about. And so how did I get there? And when you see the security guards break out dancing, that becomes, okay, this is happening. And so, you know, it's really the journey the book is all about. The journey.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. The longevity and the level of quality that you've maintained for so long is just so astonishing. It's really admirable.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, it is. You're just, you're such a. Like I said, you're such a heavyweight. You're just an incredible talent, and we just admire the heck out of you. And your book truly is on sale September. September 30th. And I, I urge everybody to go and, and read it. And I read a bunch of parts.

[Will Arnett]

I can't wait to read it.

[Jason Bateman]

It's so interesting. Your story is so fantastic, man. And you, you bring such positivity. You got such a positive vibe.

[Sean Hayes]

Infectious.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

And I'm. I'm an MTV baby, so. I grew up on you. This is a little surreal to meet you. It's really, really cool.

[Lionel Richie]

Well, first of all, I want to thank Will for inviting me. This has been more fun and. Aha. Discovery yet again, you know, but it's wonderful to be able to kind of stay here at the other end. First of all, to be alive, clothed, and in my right mind is probably a phenomenon clothed in our business. You know, normally what you have at the end of this is, well, when I came out of this clinic or when I came out of this rehab, or when I. The trick is just kind of surviving this business because. Because it's treacherous, as you well know, you know, and so, you know, being a positive light, I found that there's probably one. Well, three simple words, I love you is what the whole world wants to hear. So I didn't plan it. That's not me planning. It's just, you know, I happen to get that mission to use. Use those words. And it's been. It's serving me and the world well.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Congratulations on keeping your life light bright all of these years and untarnished and shining it on all of us. We really appreciate it. Thank you for the. The hour you hit us.

[Jason Bateman]

Thanks for creating the great Lionel Rich.

[Lionel Richie]

Thank you, sir.

[Jason Bateman]

What a pleasure. Pleasure, Pleasure. And I hope our. Our paths cross.

[Lionel Richie]

I promise it's somewhere. If you see me out, just come over and tap me on that shoulder and say, hey, it's me, Will, Sean, Jason, come on. Hey, Rich, you know, I would love.

[Jason Bateman]

We're going to take you up on that. Thank you. Lionel Richie. Thank you so much. Continued success. His book truly comes out September 30th. Lionel R. Thanks for joining us, man.

[Lionel Richie]

Love you guys.

[Sean Hayes]

Thank you, Lionel.

[Jason Bateman]

Love you too.

[Lionel Richie]

Thanks so much.

[Sean Hayes]

Bye.

[Lionel Richie]

Love you. Bye.

[Sean Hayes]

I feel bathed.

[Jason Bateman]

Me too.

[Sean Hayes]

Right?

[Jason Bateman]

Me too. Isn't it awesome when you meet somebody like that who just brings, like, positivity and you get, like, contrast? Like, just.

[Lionel Richie]

I don't know.

[Will Arnett]

You know, a lot of musicians that we've had on the show, I don't know what it is if they. If they. If they've done. If they found the thing at such a young age that they love to do that. It feels. It might sound really cheesy, but it seems like they've. They're so connected to their spirit, and they're so joyful. Like, remember when Alicia Keys was on or.

[Sean Hayes]

I was just gonna say she. She has been my favorite guest because of her light and her energy and. And he is a co. Those are my two favorite interviews.

[Lionel Richie]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Lionel Richie and Alicia Keys.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, those are. Those are very good. I think that you're right, Sean. I don't think it's cheesy at all. I think there is something about musicians.

[Will Arnett]

In that way that makes me connect to something. I don't know know. And they. And then they emit that light.

[Jason Bateman]

By the way, you know, I ran into. Out here. You're gonna love this shot. I forgot to tell you. I ran into. Oh, I was at this thing, and all of a sudden I felt the tap on their shoulder. He goes, hey, Will, it's Dave from Depeche Mode. And it was so funny the way he said, dave from Depeche Mode.

[Will Arnett]

Wait, he was there.

[Sean Hayes]

He was a sweet guy.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah. He was like, there's, like, a couple weeks ago. And I go, hey, man, we just know. Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Died. By the way, you know, he's coming to the show on Wednesday.

[Sean Hayes]

Who?

[Will Arnett]

Oscar Mark Hamill?

[Sean Hayes]

No way.

[Jason Bateman]

Wow.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, God. Scotty working on his outfit right now.

[Jason Bateman]

Are you. Are you putting it. Are you going to wear a Depends? Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Or two.

[Jason Bateman]

Or two.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, honestly, I can't get over that. That line of Richie, though, I just.

[Will Arnett]

Amazing.

[Lionel Richie]

And. And that.

[Will Arnett]

We know. I know. Like I said, I grew. I was just an MTV guy. Like, I would see him. I would see. And all the music videos and.

[Lionel Richie]

And the.

[Will Arnett]

The hello video, I was. I was going to say. And it became more beautiful because the video with the blind girl, I don't know if you guys remember that, but it was this. About this blind woman, and. And it was beautiful. Anyway, I loved that.

[Sean Hayes]

The number of hits that guy has had. He's just kept. He's got to be up there near the top. As far as.

[Jason Bateman]

It's like. It's. It's like number one. It's like 150 million records sold worldwide.

[Lionel Richie]

And he's that.

[Will Arnett]

And he's that guy. And he's like, hey, what's going on?

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Hey, what's going on? He's had like, like, like 10 or 12 number one hits. Like, it's just, it's insane.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. He's still touring and it seems like he's 35 years old.

[Jason Bateman]

No kidding. He looks amazing.

[Will Arnett]

I know.

[Jason Bateman]

He's just. I know. What an inspiration, man.

[Sean Hayes]

I want to come back as Lionel Richie.

[Jason Bateman]

I know he'll write a sequel.

[Will Arnett]

Do you think he'll write a sequel to the song hello?

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, what do you think it'd be?

[Jason Bateman]

What kind of a name do you think he could give to it?

[Sean Hayes]

I mean, if you were going to do a second part to hold.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, that's weird.

[Will Arnett]

How would you.

[Jason Bateman]

How would you. Where would you even start?

[Will Arnett]

I would probably start. My first line would say, goodbye. Is it me you're not looking for?

[Sean Hayes]

We would get your nuts out of the vice first. Goodbye.

[Will Arnett]

Bye.

[Lionel Richie]

Bye.

[Jason Bateman]

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[Lionel Richie]

Your sausage McMuffin with egg didn't change. Your receipt did. The sausage McMuffin with egg extra value meal includes a hash brown and a small coffee for just $5. Only at McDonald's for a limited time. Prices and participation may vary.

[Will Arnett]

The Hilton sale is on now through September 29th. You can save up to 20% on.

[Lionel Richie]

Stays this fall and beyond.

[Will Arnett]

Long weekends, last minute gift getaways, holiday gatherings. There's a Hilton stay for all of them. More moments, more experiences, more destinations. Now 20% off for a limited time because it matters where you stay, don't wait. Book by September 29th and save up to [e-mail] terms apply. Hilton for this day.