Lionel Richie, 70, reveals why he wished ‘lots of failure’ for daughter Sofia, 21, at a young age: ‘You have to get smacked in the face’
Despite his own massively successful career in the entertainment industry, Lionel Richie never wanted to sugarcoat just how difficult breaking into the spotlight can be for his daughter Sofia.
The 70-year-old singer told reporters at an American Idol event that when the 21-year-old aspiring actress first expressed an interest in a career in front of the cameras, he warned her expectations would be high because of his own success.
‘I told her, “I wish you lots of failure, young,”‘ the Grammy winner revealed. ‘We’re in a business where it’s how you recover and “yes, yes, yes” does not feel terrible, so you have to get smacked in the face.’
Tough love: Lionel Richie never wanted to sugarcoat just how difficult breaking into the spotlight can be for his daughter 21-year-old daughter Sofia; seen on Wednesday in Hollywood
‘I said, “You’re going to have a little bit more of a different time because you’re coming from a family where they expect a little bit more,”‘ the Hello singer explained.
Lionel, who also has 25-year-old son Miles, often tells his kids ‘do your best, give them attitude and kill it.’
But, the American Idol judge recalled sometimes that isn’t enough, like the time his older daughter, 38-year-old Nicole Richie ‘froze’ while competing in her first talent show.
‘I told her, ‘I wish you lots of failure, young,’ the Grammy winner revealed. ‘We’re in a business where it’s how you recover and “yes, yes, yes” does not feel terrible, so you have to get smacked in the face’
Ready for fame: Sofia, who is dating Scott Disick, announced earlier this month she is taking a break from Keeping Up With the Kardashians to focus on her acting ambitions
‘When Nicole was about four years old, she went on a talent show. She’s about to go on to do her little act and they said, “And now we have Lionel Richie’s daughter” and she froze. She said, “Dad I don’t want to be here,” the legendary performer recalled.
‘I remember that being, what a terrifying moment,’ he said.
Sofia, who is dating Scott Disick, announced earlier this month she is taking a break from Keeping Up With the Kardashians to focus on her acting ambitions.
‘She’s got the attitude. She sings too. I’m so excited about her,’ the proud father-of-two said. ‘Sofia’s doing fabulous right now’; seen in January
‘She’s got the attitude. She sings too. I’m so excited about her,’ the proud father-of-three said. ‘Sofia’s doing fabulous right now.’
But while Lionel will advise his daughter on her career, he won’t interfere in her relationship wither her much older beau.
‘You can’t step in there. It just doesn’t work. If you’re a parent, you’ll understand,’ he said of her and Disick.
Sofia, who is dating Scott Disick, announced earlier this month she is taking a break from Keeping Up With the Kardashians to focus on her acting ambitions