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Lionel Richie Explains Why Prince Declined We Are the World

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Credit: Alan SilfenAs the music world mourns the loss of pop icon Prince, celebrities and artists who had the opportunity to work with the eccentric musician provide anecdotal stories of the singer — including Lionel Richie, who says that the “Purple Rain” artist refused to do the “We Are the World” collaboration simply because he didn’t want to.

According to Richie, who co-wrote the 1985 charity song with Michael Jackson, Prince was invited to participate in the A-list collaborative effort, but declined last minute.

“I mean, I sat on the phone with him for the longest time,” Richie told Access Hollywood. “I said, ‘Prince, we’re all down [here] waiting on you.’ He says, ‘Can I do it in a separate room?’ ‘Okay, I’ll call you back later.'”

Lionel continued, “I would love to tell you that that’s different from anything else he’s ever done. That’s just Prince. Of course he’s not going to be at a group of singers at the time when we want him to show up.”

Richie also revealed that he had to try real hard to get the singer to attend the American Music Awards that year, which Lionel hosted, but according to the “All Night Long” singer, it was difficult “to talk him into showing up.”

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