Lionel Richie Admits 'Mistake' in Excluding Madonna from 'We Are the World' Lineup

Lionel Richie, the renowned R&B legend, has recently admitted to a notable oversight in the lineup selection for the iconic 1985 charity single 'We Are the World.'

During an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Richie expressed regret for not including Madonna in the ensemble of artists featured on the song.

Lionel Richie's Regret: Madonna's Exclusion from 'We Are the World'

(L-R) producer Quincy Jones, singer Lionel Richie and producer Rickey Minor — (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WATW via Getty Images)
In this handout photo provided by WATW, (L-R) producer Quincy Jones, singer Lionel Richie, and producer Rickey Minor at the "We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti" recording session held at Jim Henson Studios on February 1, 2010, in Hollywood, California.

The decision to exclude Madonna from 'We Are the World' was not made lightly. In discussing the selection process, Richie emphasized the importance of having voices that people would recognize immediately.

Given the limited time each artist had to make an impression with just half a line, the decision was fraught with significance. While Madonna was undoubtedly a prominent figure in the music industry at the time, Richie believed that Lauper's voice had the distinctiveness needed for the song.

However, in hindsight, Richie has come to realize that Madonna's absence may have been a missed opportunity.

In a candid moment on the show, Richie responded affirmatively when Kimmel suggested that excluding Madonna was a misstep, with the latter suggesting that the 'Endless Love' singer could have just included both Lauper and the 'Material Girl' hitmaker.

"I'm going to say this now on national and international television - you're right," Richie admittedly said.

Madonna, often referred to as the Queen of Pop, had a massive global following and undeniable star power. Her inclusion could have brought even more attention to the cause and potentially increased the song's impact.

The Making of 'We Are the World'

'We Are the World,' co-written by Richie and Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones, brought together a star-studded lineup of artists to support African famine relief. Specifically, the song was conceived as a response to the devastating famine in Ethiopia, with the goal of raising funds and awareness for the humanitarian crisis.

Richie, along with Jackson and Jones, meticulously curated the lineup of artists to ensure maximum impact and appeal.

The making of 'We Are the World' is the subject of a new Netflix documentary titled 'The Greatest Night in Pop,' offering viewers an inside look at the historic recording session. The documentary highlights the collaborative efforts of Richie, Jackson, and a multitude of music icons who came together for the charitable cause.

The Netflix documentary offers insight into the dynamics between the artists and the creative process behind the song. It serves as a tribute to the power of music to bring people together and effect positive change in the world.