Lionel Richie is back home and reportedly “doing great” after spending three days in the hospital.
The “American Idol” judge, 77, checked himself into a St. Louis hospital after appearing unwell during a recent concert, where he needed a chair to finish his performance, per TMZ.
Now that Richie is back home and recovering, attention is turning to the people closest to the music icon, including his longtime girlfriend, Lisa Parigi. Here’s everything to know about her.
Who Is Lionel Richie’s Girlfriend Lisa Parigi?
Richie’s longtime girlfriend, Lisa Parigi, was born and raised in Switzerland. The 36-year-old entrepreneur is of Caribbean, Swiss, and Chinese descent and can speak four languages fluently.
Parigi is the founder and CEO of lifestyle brand The Estate Collection and the skincare line Glow Up Beauty. Prior to starting her own businesses, Parigi worked in the corporate technology industry, particularly at numerous companies based in Geneva and Zurich.
How Did Lionel Richie Meet Lisa Parigi?
In a 2022 interview with Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Parigi revealed that she first met Richie through mutual friends at a dinner party in Los Angeles. At the time, Parigi was only visiting from Switzerland.
“So, long story short, I got invited to this dinner on very short notice, completely unplanned,” she told the outlet. “So here I am at this dinner, he was at the same dinner, we get introduced to each other, and it was, what can I tell you, it was very organic and very random, but we had great conversations, we spoke all night long about everything, and yet it was, you know, the universe, I don’t know, here we are. And it’s been beautiful so far, and what can I say.”
She Is His Biggest Fan
Parigi is also Richie’s biggest cheerleader. During the same interview, she revealed that her favorite song of Richie’s is “Stuck On You.”
“The lyrics, the melody, and although I go to literally almost every show, each time, it feels like I’m hearing it for the first time, so it captivates me, and it feels special,” Parigi shared.
Parigi has also supported Richie at numerous public events over the years. In 2017, she accompanied the “Hello” hitmaker to Washington, D.C., along with his kids, to receive his Kennedy Center Honor.
In December 2019, Parigi accompanied Richie at the Vatican, where they met Pope Francis. The couple also attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace ahead of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s crowning ceremony. Later, Parigi attended the Coronation Concert, where Richie took the stage as one of the star performers.
Lionel Richie on Lisa Parigi: ‘She Makes Everything Feel Safe’
In 2019, Richie opened up about his hard-learned lessons in love, admitting that he’s a “hopeless romantic.”
“I’m a man who’s been through the ups and the downs, the ins and the outs of love,” the singer told PEOPLE at the time.
Richie also gushed about Parigi, saying, “She’s extremely beautiful, but most importantly she’s smart and helps me deal with my crazy world.”
The singer continued, “At this time in my life when you can be so jaded about things, [my girlfriend] Lisa kind of makes everything feel a bit safe.”
Richie has been married twice. He first tied the knot with his college sweetheart, Brenda Harvey, in October 1975, and ultimately got divorced in August 1993. They are parents to Nicole Richie.
Richie then married Diane Alexander in December 1995, and ultimately got divorced in 2004. They are parents to Miles Brockman Richie and Sofia Richie.
