Lionel Richie ‘honoured’ to perform at King Charles’ upcoming coronation concert

The musical acts are gearing up to perform all night long with Lionel Richie now joining the line-up.

Lionel Richie is elated to be performing at the upcoming coronation of King Charles.

The legendary singer said he couldn’t believe it when he got tapped on the shoulder to join the likes of Katy Perry, Take That and Andrea Bocelli on stage on the grounds of Windsor Castle on May 7, one day after King Charles is officially crowned at Westminster Abbey in London.

“I mean, you don’t get in the business and say, ‘You know what? I’ll be at the King’s coronation.’ You know, that just never comes up,” an excited Richie told Peoplemagazine.

“[It’s] A, a surprise. B, what an honour. And C, the fact of all the names that are out there that he could have had for this, he called my name.”

Lionel Richie says he is honoured’ to perform at King Charles coronation concert on May 7 on the grounds of Windsor Castle. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The 73-year-old said he has known the 74-year-old British monarch “for a long time” and he is a “wonderful person”.

“I want to see the pomp and circumstance because I don’t care what you thought Michael Jackson did. I don’t care what you thought Prince did. I don’t care what you thought Madonna did. Nothing’s going to be like this,” Richie said.

“This is the grandiose of grandiose right here.”

The coronation is set to be quite the extravangza with the musical acts reportedly backed by a 70-piece orchestra, a string orchestra and a 300-strong coronation choir, and will be screened live by the BBC.

Lionel Richie with his girlfriend Lisa Parigi, King Charles and Tom Jones in 2019. Picture: Arthur Edwards/Getty Images

Just like Richie, Perry is counting down the days until showtime, saying she is “excited” to be performing as it would “help shine a further light on the Trust’s Children’s Protection Fund”. She became an ambassador for the charity three years ago to help child trafficking victims.

As for Richie, he was also appointed global ambassador for The Prince’s Trust back in 2019.

Another singer who’s itching to take the stage is British musician Freya Ridings.

“I feel truly overwhelmed and in awe of the opportunity,” said the 28-year-old, whose debut album was streamed more than a billion times globally.

“It feels like a ‘pinch me’ once-in-a-lifetime moment and I’m feeling very honoured to have been asked.”

Originally published as Lionel Richie ‘honoured’ to perform at King Charles’ upcoming coronation concert