Lionel Richie Says Nicole Richie Taught Him About Love: ‘Forget Biological’

Lionel Richie has learned some touching lessons courtesy of his daughter, Nicole Richie. 

Richie and his first wife, Brenda Harvey, became Nicole’s legal guardians when she was 3 and later adopted her at age 9. She is the biological daughter of Lionel’s drummer Peter Escovedo (the brother of famed musician Sheila E.) and Karen Moss. 

“If I’ve ever met anyone in my life, Nicole was the one who actually taught me how to fall in love,” Lionel, 76, shared on Today with Jenna & Friends on Oct. 3. “Forget biological, I don’t know the difference.”

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The “Endless Love” singer said he was smitten with his daughter from the start, adding, “This little girl captivated me to the point where I told her, ‘I’m never going anywhere ever again.’ And of course she had this smile and this laugh.”

The Grammy winner had an unusual metaphor for their relationship, saying, “The two of us together are a great ham sandwich.”

Lionel, who is promoting his new memoir, Truly, went on to marry Diane Alexander in 1995 and the couple welcomed their children Miles Richie, 31, and Sofia Richie, 27, before splitting in 2004.  

He also detailed how Nicole’s childhood in the spotlight wasn’t always easy on her. 

“The hardest part about this is they’re growing up, and I’m taking off again,” Richie recalled. “Right when you think everything’s going to chill out, it goes to the next level and the next level. And now what’s happening is it’s becoming a problem.”

He recalled a specific situation that was difficult for his elder daughter. 

“You go to a recital with Nicole. Now there’s enough pressure on Nicole just to be able to sit up there and do a kid’s recital,” he explained. “The lady walks in and says, ‘We have Lionel Richie in the audience tonight!’ Oh, come on, guys, give the kid a break. It became very difficult to kind of be in that present state of mind as dad and the public would not let me.”

Lionel previously opened up to PEOPLE about his decision to adopt Nicole in the ‘80s. 

“Nicole was actually a godsend. She was a little girl who needed a shot,” he said in 2022. “She was used to people coming and going. She looked at me and I’d say, ‘I’m not going anywhere.'”