February 16, 2012

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The Home Shopping Network is launching a live concert series on March 16, and they've enlisted Lionel Richie to help them kick it off. For the singer-songwriter, the first HSN Live concert is an opportune time and place to perform songs off his upcoming country album, Tuskegee.

"I always say that when I write songs they are not just for New York and LA, they are for everyone between," Richie says. "[HSN] is the perfect partner to help invite people into my life and into my home with this album Tuskegee."

The album, out March 26, is Richie's collection of duets with big names in country music performing many of his hits.

One of those collaborators, Kenny Rogers, has been confirmed to join him on stage to perform "Lady" at the March 16 broadcast, which starts at 8 p.m. EST.

The event, titled HSN LIVE Presents Lionel Richie sponsored by Cricket, will be preceded and followed by special programming on the network's Facebook page, including more performances by Richie and an interview with Rogers.

HSN has been a launching pad for several releases, ranging from Tony Bennett and Rod Stewart. Andy Sheldon, the network's EVP of Television and Executive Creative Director, said there's a history of great storytelling there, and that Richie fits the mold.

"Lionel Richie is one of the world's greatest songwriters/storytellers, with a repertoire of some of the world's most beloved songs," Sheldon said in an email exchange. "Our customers grew up listening to his music and know every lyric by heart, so having him kick off our first HSN LIVE concert series just made perfect sense."

The Grammy and Oscar-winning singer reveals Tuskegee could be the first in a series of genre albums, but that his love of country music should not come as a surprise to fans.

"Country music has always been a part of who I am and my writing," he says. "So yes, it's been apart of me as long as I can remember."

The project itself, which features Rascall Flatts ("Dancing on the Ceiling"), Shania Twain ("Endless Love") and Willie Nelson ("Easy"), began as a smaller project but quickly grew, Richie says.

"What started out as a three-week project turned into a nine-month journey," he noted. "The entire album was difficult because it's not as if everyone on the album is sitting around with nothing else on their schedule. In the end though, it was all worth it."

Tuskegee represents an exciting new chapter in Lionel's career with an unprecedented lineup of country icons including: Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton,Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington and Little Big Town. The multi-genre album also features such superstars as Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelsonand Jimmy Buffett.

Lionel Richie's Tuskegee Track-Listing:

1. "You Are" with Blake Shelton
2. "Say You, Say Me" with Jason Aldean
3. "Stuck On You" with Darius Rucker
4. "Deep River Woman" with Little Big Town
5. "My Love" with Kenny Chesney
6. "Dancing On The Ceiling" with Rascal Flatts
7. "Hello" with Jennifer Nettles
8. "Sail On" with Tim McGraw
9. "Endless Love" with Shania Twain
10. "Just For You" with Billy Currington
11. "Lady" with Kenny Rogers
12. "Easy" with Willie Nelson
13. "All Night Long" with Jimmy Buffett

Bonus CD Track-Listing:

1. "You Are" - never before released live version recorded at Wembley Arena
2. "Say You, Say Me" – original recording
3. "My Love" – original recording
4. "Dancing On The Ceiling" – original recording
5. "Stuck On You" – original recording

Prior to the HSN LIVE concert series event, a special pre-show will stream live on HSN's Facebook page at 7 p.m. (EST), offering fans exclusive behind-the-scenes access as Lionel prepares to take the stage. Facebook viewers will be able to watch exclusive content at www.hsn.com/LionelLiveto learn more about the inspiration behind Tuskegee, as well as a live interview with Kenny Rogers just before the show. Following his HSN premiere, Lionel will perform a special encore and further interact with HSN's Facebook fans during a live post-concert chat.

Tuskegee is also a musical homecoming that feels like a heartwarming reunion with a beloved friend. Lionel proves that you can go home again as he returns to his Southern roots to pay tribute to his hometown of Tuskegee, Alabama, where he was indelibly shaped as a man and a musician. He was exposed to country, gospel, R&B and classical music while growing up, and it was in Tuskegee where he helped form the Commodores and wrote his first hits, including "Sail On" and "Easy."

For more information about "HSN Live Presents Lionel Richie sponsored by Cricket" and to pre-order the 2-disc Tuskegee set now, please go to www.hsn.com/Lionel.

Embarrased as I am to admit it, I'm a big Jimmy Buffett fan, so I am excited about this album, though I don't like Country music, or duets... I've always liked Lionel Richie, but I wish he would've made more music in the 80s.. he's only had about a half-dozen classic songs post-Dancing On The Ceiling.

CrabalockerFishwife said:

I wish he would've made more music in the 80s..

I think he had voice problems in the late 1980's. It was polyps or something.

Lionel Richie teams up with Danish singer-songwriter Rasmus Seebach to bring new life to the hit song "Say You, Say Me."

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