Lionel Richie is responsible for dozens of iconic love songs, some of which ranked number one on the charts and sold millions of copies. 

The Grammy award-winning singer has been in the music business since the 90s and is considered one of the greatest R&B singers of all time. However, all these may not have happened if the singer decided to answer another career call. 

The 71-year-old musical star revealed recently that he was influenced to take up priesthood, and for a while he stuck with it.

Keep reading for more information below. 

Many celebrities in the industry first started on an entirely different journey, before they decided to stick to entertainment. 

During a recent sit-down on Naomi Campbell’s “No Filter” web series, the singer was asked to refresh everyone’s mind on his priesthood career that did not pan out. 

According to the “Truly” singer, he believed that he was called to be a priest, and he had many priestly influences to help him on that path. 

 “Father Vernon Jones was probably one of the strongest influences in my life in terms of having someone to kind of talk to you every Saturday,” the singer explained. 

The explanation that fans have been looking forward to, was about why the singer did not follow through with becoming a priest. 

Luckily, the “All Night Long” singer did not hold back on that information. 

During the interview, he changed his mind after he enlisted as a singer and saxophonist for the Commodores. He also explained that he considered life as a singer more durable for him than that of a priest. 

“I remember calling up Father Jones and Bishop George Murray and Father Tollie, and I said ‘I don’t think I’m going to be priest material,’” he confessed. 

Richie took his music career to the next level after he joined the Commodores. They signed under Motown Records to become a support act to The Jackson 5” group. 

From the beginning, Richie was fanatic for romantic songs and explored every inch of it in his music. His first solo album included  three hit songs including “Truly.” 

Many years down the line, the singer released numerous singles, some of which topped charts in the U.S. He joined forces with Michael Jackson, to release the US number-one hit “We Are The World.” 

Aside from an amazing music career, Richie is also an activist.

He is a firm advocate for Breast Cancer awareness, and has co-raised over $3.1 million for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

He once revealed that his grandmother was a breast cancer survivor, who lived until she was 103 years old. 

The performer first got married to his high school sweetheart Brenda Harvey in 1975, but they divorced in 1993. Prior to this, the lovers legally adopted a 9-year-old child named Nicole. 

His second marriage was to Diane Alexander, whom he shares two kids with. The couple’s divorce was finalized in 2004.