Kenny Rogers’ 1980 hit “Lady” marked a significant shift for the country star, but the single also changed the career of another major artist.
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Rogers’ trademark hit was written and produced by Lionel Richie, who initially presented the song idea to his then-bandmates in the Commodores. The track was still fresh on Richie’s mind when Rogers called him up and voiced his hopes of recording one of his compositions. When he presented “Lady” to Rogers, he immediately asked to record the track. There was just one problem: Richie hadn’t finished writing it yet.
During a 2023 interview on The Drew Barrymore Show, Richie described the hectic moments after that phone call and the surprising location where the rest of “Lady” first came to life. “I said, ‘Excuse me for a minute, Let me, uh, go to the bathroom…’ [then] I’m sitting in the stall writing the second verse to ‘Lady.'”
Although there were no guarantees that Richie could finish the track before Rogers booked time in the studio, he wouldn’t back down from a challenge. “You will do some amazing things when you’re scared to death,” he added. “The idea of telling Mr. Rogers that I don’t have the second verse was not going to happen in my lifetime.”
That frantic impromptu writing session resulted in a song that enchanted not only Rogers but music fans across the world.
A Lasting Hit
Rogers included “Lady” as one of three previously unreleased songs added to his second Greatest Hits compilation, which he released on September 23, 1980, via Liberty Records. The track quickly became a radio hit, climbing to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, and Hot Country Songs charts.
The popularity of “Lady” stretched far outside the U.S., becoming a Top 10 hit in South Africa, Argentina, Canada, and New Zealand. This massive success helped elevate both Rogers’ and Richie’s careers and marked the start of a successful decade for both artists.
Rogers and Richie performed the song together many times, including on a 2005 episode of CMT’s Crossroads. It also served as a staple of Rogers’ live concert performances until 2017, when he stepped away from touring following an all-star tribute concert in Nashville.
Kenny Rogers died on March 20, 2020, from natural causes at 81. When news of Rogers’ passing broke, Richie reflected on his friendship with the country star, and how he changed his life for the better.
“Everything that happened in my life, truthfully, from that moment on, had a Kenny Rogers stamp on it. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor,” Richie told People in the days following Rogers’ death. “He made everything in my life, up until his death, just an enjoyable ride, man. Kenny was all about love.”
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