Although Nicole Richie was raised in a renowned family, her appearance on the reality TV show The Simple Life with Paris Hilton propelled her to stardom.
The TV show, The Simple Life, which aired from December 2003 until August 2007, made Nicole Richie a well-known name in pop culture.
However, some fans and critics were taken aback to learn that she was adopted, despite her adoptive father, the singer Lionel Richie, being familiar with her biological parents.
Nicole Richie’s Biological Parents
Karen Moss, a backstage assistant for Lionel, was Nicole’s birth mother. Her father, Peter Michael Escovedo, was a member of Lionel’s band and the brother of Sheila E, a well-known pop percussionist and longtime collaborator of Prince.
Why Did Lionel Richie Adopt Nicole?
During a Prince concert in Los Angeles in 1983, Lionel noticed a 2-year-old girl playing the tambourine on stage next to Prince.
That little girl was Nicole. A few weeks later, Lionel discovered that Nicole’s parents faced difficulties at home.
In an interview in 2016, Lionel explained that they were concerned that the young child would not be able to go on tour, and during a conversation, they decided to take care of Nicole instead.
Lionel and his first wife, Brenda Harvey-Richie, cared for Nicole for two years, during which they realized that the situation with Nicole’s birth parents was not improving but rather worsening.
Lionel promised to love her and be there for her always, even though Nicole had reservations about trusting him due to her past experiences with her parents. Lionel kept his promise to Nicole.
Lionel Richie Shares Heartwarming Story Of Adopting His Daughter
In a 2015 interview with Piers Morgan, Lionel Richie shared the touching story of how he came to adopt his daughter, Nicole. Initially hesitant about becoming a father figure, Lionel eventually fell in love with Nicole over the course of a year.
He then decided to adopt her. Nicole was officially adopted at 9, and the Richie family has been stronger than ever since.
