Lionel Richie offered Kelly Clarkson profound words on navigating grief during a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, leading to a deeply emotional and unexpectedly humorous exchange between the two music icons.
The conversation began when Clarkson quoted a line from Richie’s new memoir, Truly, stating, “Grief is the great teacher of what matters most.” She praised the sentiment and asked the “Endless Love” singer how he arrived at that understanding.
Richie explained that unlike other life events, grief is an experience that cannot be rehearsed. “It’s a real moment where you can’t phone it in,” he said. “You can’t rehearse the loss of your mother or your father or a friend. You can’t rehearse that.”
Clarkson agreed, adding that the feeling “hits you in waves.”
Richie continued, noting that in moments of “uncontrollable grief,” he finds clarity. “I look forward to finding out who am I going to be really, because that’s the real me,” he shared.
He then delivered a powerful observation that left Clarkson visibly moved. “If you hurt so badly, that means you love so deeply,” he concluded.
After a moment of emotional reflection, Richie lightened the mood. “Hold on, I can save you, don’t worry,” he joked, leaping from his seat to playfully place a hand on Clarkson’s forehead in a mock exorcism. The gesture made both artists laugh, with Clarkson throwing her hands up and declaring, “I feel healed.”
The discussion was prompted by Richie’s memoir, Truly, which chronicles the lessons he learned on his journey from a shy young man to a world-renowned entertainer and songwriter.