Richie Granddaughter Healed Family Rift

5 months ago 29th May 03:40

Lionel Richie has credited granddaughter Harlow for bringing his family together, because she healed a long-running rift with his ex-wife Brenda.

The singer's daughter Nicole Richie gave birth to the tot last year (08), and Richie admits he was worried about becoming a grandpa - in case iteffected his sex appeal.

But the Dancing on the Ceiling hitmaker insists all fears were set aside when Harlow - nicknamed The Mouse - arrived, as she has helped work out his family's past problems.

And it's his relationship with former wife Brenda Harvey, who divorced from the star in 1993 following allegations of infidelity, which has reaped the biggest benefit.

First of all, your baby is going to have a baby

He tells Ebony magazine, "First of all, your baby is going to have a baby. Second, what is this grandpa thing? "But then once Harlow showed up, you could call me grandpa so many times that I wouldn't care. You fall in love with The Mouse - I call her (Harlow) The Mouse.

"It brings joy to the entire family. All of a sudden Brenda, Nicole's mom, and I are on the phone with the rest of the family. Because when The Mouse shows up, everybody drops whatever. (That) kind of erases all of the baggage".

Meanwhile Richie reveals his inspirion to write his classic song Three Times A Lady was his parents' devotion to each other.

The soul legend scored a smash hit with the 1978 track after a touching story moved him to write the lyrics.

It was previously thought the singer was referencing his wife, mother and grandmother in the song.

But he has exposed that long-running story as a myth - and revealed it was in fact inspired by a heart-rending speech from his father.

Richie tells Ebony magazine, "I went home for Thanksgiving dinner, my dad stood up (at the table), which he had never done before.

"He said, 'I'd like to make a toast to your mother. She's a great wife, mother and friend' - those three words. It came back to me as three times a lady. I thought, 'Wow, how many other people have this story?'"