He also struggled with spending time alone and would often find a fan to accompany him to meals. Richie, 76, opened up about the memory in an interview on Today with Jenna & Friends to promote his new memoir, Truly. Lionel Richie on TODAY with Jenna & Friends. TODAY with Jenna & Friends/YouTube"But what happened was, after you get the hit record, guess what you have to do? "It's just one step forward and one step back, and I kept saying, 'Step forward,'" he said.