Skip to main content Skip to footer 
Renowned musician Lionel Richie, renowned for his iconic contributions to the music industry, recently reminisced about his involvement in the historic 1985 track “We Are the World.” While reflecting on the process of selecting artists for the legendary collaboration, Richie candidly revealed a lingering regret regarding the absence of Madonna, one of the era’s most prominent artists.
In a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s show, Richie opened up about the decision-making process behind the star-studded lineup. Acknowledging the constraints of the brief solo lines each artist was allotted, Richie explained the importance of featuring voices instantly recognizable to listeners. Despite the popularity of Madonna during the 1980s, the decision was made to include Cyndi Lauper, another esteemed pop icon of the time, due to her distinctive and identifiable voice.
Responding to Kimmel’s inquiry about why both Lauper and Madonna weren’t included, Richie admitted, “I’m going to say this now on national and international television, you’re right.” The conversation underscored the complexity of the decision-making process surrounding the historic recording, which brought together an array of music legends, including Huey Lewis, Smokey Robinson, Bruce Springsteen, Dionne Warwick, Paul Simon, and Diana Ross, among others.
“We Are the World,” co-written by Richie and Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones, aimed to raise funds for the famine-ridden people of Africa. The single, accompanied by a poignant music video documenting the collaborative recording session, became one of the best-selling singles of all time, generating over $60 million for the cause.
The profound impact of this historic musical moment is now immortalized in the new Netflix documentary “The Greatest Night in Pop,” offering audiences a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of “We Are the World” and its enduring legacy.
