Hello country music — is it Lionel Richie ... his first-ever country album — decades after scoring his first hit in the genre with Kenny Rogers' "Lady," written by Richie, 73.

The 'American Idol' judge's dad and mom were initially surprised by his career choice Lionel Richie’s late parents, Lionel Brockman Richie Sr. and Alberta R. Foster, taught him so much about life.

Lionel Richie, who was inducted into ... and continued to gain popularity until they signed with a record label in ‘74. They released their first album four years later and the song “Three ...