Singer Lionel Richie arrived at the BBC Radio 2 Studios in London, England, UK on March 1, 2012
*Lionel Richie says the only person who could’ve saved Whitney Houston — was Whitney Houston.
Richie – a close friend of the late singer, who battled substance abuse before her sudden death in February – knows from his experiences with daughter Nicole, who had problems with heroin and cocaine abuse, that she was the only person who could have turned her life around.
”You know … I know from Nicole’s experience. At some point you’ve got to realize the only person that’s going to save you – Nicole, or Whitney – is going to be yourself,” Lionel told UK TV show BBC Breakfast. ”This is a tough business, a very tough business and you don’t hear this story every day, about people who are in our business, but it happens every day. The stories you don’t hear are the stories of the people who are not famous.”
Lionel, 62, also said he can understand how celebrities find it hard to see reality when they are surrounded by people who tell them everything they do is right. Asked about being surrounded by such people, he added: ”I’m not immune to that, we’ve had that all the time.
”I get suspicious when from the time I wake up in the morning to when I go to bed in the evening everything I did was OK. That’s great but you know there’s nothing you could do all day that’s perfect, so you get suspicious and go, ‘Something’s wrong if I’m right all the time.’ ”
Nicole managed to overcome her problems when she checked into rehab in 2003, and Lionel recently revealed how he even went to stay in the facility with her to help her through the treatment.
He said: ”I was about to go out on tour and I said, ‘Cancel the tour, we are checking into rehab.’ We as a family and, of course, I remember that look on her face when she walked down that hall and she said, ‘Are you going to be here?’
”I said, ‘I’m right down the hall. I’m not going anywhere,’ because to me, there’s nothing more important, there’s no other greater signal you can send your kid – not only do I love you, but I want to demonstrate it.”
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Lionel is speaking truth. Although its to late for Whitney, but maybe his experience
will help someone else going through drug addiction as Nicole & Whitney did. Its a
blessing his daughter got through it.
Old man Richie, Whitney died from prescription drugs which she wasn’t addicted too and your daughter was a druggie as a result of your bad parenting.
Everybody has something to say. People still don’t know what she actually died from. However, people forget Whitney and many others tired. You don’t go to rehab if you ain’t trying. She went three times and that shows she did not give up on sobriety. The problem is when people Stop trying. The fact is many people take perscription meds and have a few drinks not even thinking about it.
Well, everybody got something to say now that she is gone.
Why didn’t someone stepped up to the plate before?
Because folks have this attitude, “ain’t none a my biz. She grown.”
But am I my brother’s keeper?
We need people to be more inquisitive, nosy, …show that you care.
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Lionel Richie is a has-been and he needs to shut up and stop making comments on Whitney like he knew or understood her inside out…. she is a legend and you are nowhere near her class or standing as an Icon …get a life Lionel, and stop drawing attention to yourself by using her death as a platform!
You will not be remembered no matter what you say but Whitney Houston will never be forgotten.
Your attempt at trying to find importance and prominence through her passing is plain pathetic !!
Lionel Ritchie is a has been? Wow we still don’t know how to treat our stars.
Right SoopDawg1…I’m thinking the same thing! Lionel Richie a HAS-BEEN??? Not only was he a member of one of the most successful bands in R&B, but he was one of the most successful solo artists OF ALL TIME…are you kidding me??? And I’m sure he was asked about Whitney during the interview and answered the questions that were asked…he didn’t issue a statement.
Exactamundo.
Lionel Richie, referred to as a has been? LOL!
Lionel Richie a has been is hilarious indeed LOL! He’s no where near Whitney’s standing as an Icon? Really? This is too funny for words LMAO!!! SMH
Anyone who does not realize that Lionel Richie is an icon is probably very young. He was through with it before Whitney knew what to do with it.