Lionel Richie Records Duets Album With Darius Rucker, Tim McGraw + More

Pop star Lionel Richie is recording an album of duets with several of country's biggest stars. Richie is nearing completion of the record, and so far he’s recorded 'Stuck on You' with Darius Rucker, 'Sail On' with Tim McGraw and 'Lady' with Kenny Rogers. Other songs on the album include ‘Easy’ with his pal Willie Nelson and ‘Deep River Woman’ with Little Big Town. The Grammy winner has also cut ‘You Are’ with Blake Shelton and ‘All Night Long’ with Jimmy Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band.

Legendary Nashville producer Tony Brown is producing this new venture, and he tells CMT, "We’re having a blast. Lionel is the coolest fun guy, and he’s blown away by the musicians here."

Richie is no stranger to country music. He wrote 'Lady' for Kenny Rogers, which hit No. 1 in 1980 and he produced Rogers' album 'Share Your Love' the following year. They remain good friends today. In 2005, CMT Crossroads paired 'The Gambler' singer and Richie. Richie also collaborated with Alabama on ‘Deep River Woman’ which got to No. 10 on the charts in 1986.

Richie first announced his plans to work on an all country music album at the Country Music Hall of Fame guitar pull in Los Angeles with Vince Gill, Taylor Swift, Emmylou Harris and Kris Kristofferson. This new duets album will most likely be out this summer.