‘Botox and Fillers’: ‘American Idol’s Lionel Richie, 74, Sparks Heated Stir with ’Different’ Face in Recent Video

Lionel Richie, the legendary singer and current judge on “American Idol,” has recently found himself at the center of an online debate following the release of a short Instagram video.

In the clip, Lionel shared his excitement about the arrival of his daughter Sofia Richie Grainge’s baby girl, referring to his newborn granddaughter as a “diva.” Lionel, who has always been open about his joy of being a grandfather, expressed his enthusiasm in the video.

He had previously stated, “Being a grandfather is an exciting adventure for me, but I am not looking forward to being called grandpa. I’m Pop-pop. We don’t get the ‘grandpa,’ yeah, that’s a little deep. Pop-pop is where we’re going.”

Lionel also shared his excitement for his daughter Sofia and her husband Elliot Grainge. “My baby is having a baby, and I’m so thrilled for Elliot and Sofia. They are just over the moon,” he said.

Still, in his latest message, the country singer humorously warned Sofia Richie Grainge about the challenges of parenthood, suggesting that their baby girl might inherit her mother’s spirited personality and become as defiant as her.

Despite Lionel’s heartfelt message, many online users were more focused on his appearance in the video than his words. Comments quickly flooded social media, with users wondering what had changed in Lionel’s facial appearance and structure.

Some expressed concern, “What 😢 did he do to his face,” reflecting a mixture of surprise and disapproval. “Did he do something to his face?” another shocked user asked. “I will admit he does look a little different,” a person concurred, having looked at Lionel’s face.

Users speculated about whether Lionel had undergone cosmetic surgery. One user commented, “He needs to stop with the fillers,” while another observed, “Face looks strange.” The theories went on as others remarked “Botox and Fillers… men do it too,” and “Lionel’s face is so tight.”

Such speculation is common in the entertainment industry where stars, including musicians, face the pressure to look young despite their age. So, some celebrities opt for plastic surgery to maintain their youthfulness. However, Lionel has taken the natural approach to anti-aging.

The singer drinks adequate water, sleeps well, and does not partake in too much red meat. He also engaged in risqué activities such as sex to maintain his seemingly ageless appearance.

Lionel Richie has said no to plastic surgery arguing that once one takes that path they can never go back to their natural appearance. He also joked that with cosmetic procedures, “God might not recognize me, so I want to make sure he knows me.”

The “Stuck on You” singer is also keen on skincare as he uses the Lancer Method, which involves exfoliating, cleansing, and moisturizing.

Lionel’s fitness and self-care routine helps him stay healthy. It is natural and includes plant and nature-based ingredients in his garden. At times, he only walks in his garden or takes time with his music as a form of self-care.

Despite being 74 years old, retirement is not on his mind. Lionel wants to keep playing the hits his fans know and love. He finds his work to be fun, and noted, “Plus, everyone in the crowd wants to sing karaoke with Lionel Richie, so my job is easy!”

Now, Lionel is comfortable in his 70s as much as at first, he admitted he was not quite ready. He noted that today he is rolling with his new age as long as he doesn’t lose his spark and passion. ” Death is going to be a surprise to me because I’m not making any plans for it,” he divulged.

Today, Lionel, who hasn’t lost any of his spark is absolutely excited with everything going on in his life, including his music and journey as a grandfather.

Sofia has now added to the number of grandchildren her father has been blessed with. As previously reported, Lionel’s daughter took stunning pictures showing off her baby bump and posing next to her husband, when she gave an exclusive interview to Vogue.

The model also posted these gorgeous photos on her Instagram, thanking people for all the love and support and writing, “And then there were three 🤍.”

Sofia narrated that she discovered her pregnancy at the four-week mark while attending the Prada show during a trip to Milan for Fashion Week. She recalled feeling awful but dismissed everything as jet lag. At this time, she and Elliot had been trying for a baby ever since they got married.

So, when she got back to Los Angeles, the model decided to take a test because she, her husband, and friends were planning to go to an Ed Sheeran concert that would have alcohol, and she just wanted to be safe.

The test turned positive. Still, since the line was faint and the test kit crappy, Sofia decided to send Elliot to buy three of the best pregnancy tests he could find. When all three tests turned out positive, the couple were so happy as they had been so used to seeing negatives.

“He was so excited, and we both cried. It was crazy and overwhelming and so hard not to scream it from rooftops,” narrated Sofia. Since it was so early in her pregnancy, Sofia didn’t even tell her friends until she hit the eight-week mark. “Pregnancy is really scary and you want to protect that space,” she noted.

At her sixth month of pregnancy, Sofia revealed that she had learned more about the female body and pregnancy than she had ever done in her whole life. She admitted that the rapid growth of her baby had left her uncertain about the due date.

Still, she announced that she was having a baby girl, something that came as a shock to both her and Elliot as they thought they were having a boy. Having a daughter was Sofia’s dream. “Elliot is really excited for a girl too,” she added.

Lionel shares Sofia with his ex-wife Diane Alexander, whom he wed in 1996, and they divorced in 2004. When Sofia got married, the singer joked that he’d “cried enough.” Lionel, who walked Sofia down the aisle, confessed that it was a “great feeling” watching his baby girl get married.