HarperCollins has announced a 30th September 2025 publication date for a “no holds barred” memoir from Lionel Richie.
HarperOne Group president and publisher Judith Curr acquired world all language rights, including audio, from Creative Artists Agency, with Elizabeth Mitchell, executive editor, HarperOne, editing. It will be published under the William Collins imprint by HarperCollins UK as well HarperCollins France and HarperCollins Español. The synopsis says: “In this intimate, deeply candid memoir—as yet untitled—Richie seeks to inspire all who doubt themselves or feel their dreams don’t matter by chronicling lessons learned in the course of his most unlikely of success stories—from a painfully shy, “tragically” late bloomer grappling with ADHD to his dramatic transformation into a world-class entertainer and composer of love songs that have played like the soundtrack of our lives.”
It adds: “In what he will describe as his darkest period, Richie barely survived the loss of his father, two painful divorces, a record industry in rapid change and an injury to his vocal cords which nearly cost him his voice. Richie will share how he lived to tell this story—and through divine intervention, soon took off to higher heights, with one of the greatest rejuvenation stories ever told.”
Jamie Birkett, editorial director at William Collins, said: “We’re enormously proud to be publishing Lionel Richie’s inspirational and candid memoir at William Collins. Spanning multiple decades, it charts his journey to becoming the legendary songwriter, producer and showman we know and love today, set against the backdrop of a golden age in music history.”
Curr added: “We are thrilled to not only be providing his fans and friends with a nuanced, detailed, emotional telling of what his life has held, but his view of the world—what has changed and what has remained the same, the difficulties and the causes for celebration.”
