The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize Salutes Lionel Richie
This May, The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song salutes Lionel Richie.
The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize Salutes Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie Accepts the Gershwin Prize
Lionel Richie gives his acceptance speech for the 2022 Gershwin Prize.
Lionel Richie Accepts the Gershwin Prize
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The Library of Congress awards its Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and Culture annually.
This May, The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song salutes musician, Lionel Richie. Richie is an Alabama-born songwriter with a smooth voice and a deft touch for the romantic ballad. Lionel Richie’s unforgettable work has shown us that music can bring us together. Even when we face problems and disagree on issues, songs can show us what we have in common.
This May, The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song salutes musician, Lionel Richie. Richie is an Alabama-born songwriter with a smooth voice and a deft touch for the romantic ballad. Lionel Richie’s unforgettable work has shown us that music can bring us together. Even when we face problems and disagree on issues, songs can show us what we have in common.
The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize Salutes Lionel Richie
This May, The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song salutes Lionel Richie.
The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize Salutes Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie Accepts the Gershwin Prize
Lionel Richie gives his acceptance speech for the 2022 Gershwin Prize.
Lionel Richie Accepts the Gershwin Prize
2022 GERSHWIN PRIZE
Celebrating Lionel Richie
Lineup Includes Gloria Estefan, Boyz II Men, Luke Bryan, Andra Day, Chris Stapleton and More, Premiering May 17 on PBS.
Read MoreProviding Support for PBS.org
Photo Gallery
1/18
Gershwin Prize for Popular Song recipient Lionel Richie speaks with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden during an interview in the Coolidge Auditorium, March 7, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
2/18
Gershwin Prize for Popular Song recipient Lionel Richie speaks with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden during an interview in the Coolidge Auditorium, March 7, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
3/18
Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoree Lionel Richie speaks with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden in the Coolidge Auditorium, March 8, 2022.
Photo by Elaina Finkelstein/Library of Congress.
4/18
Gershwin Prize for Popular Song recipient Lionel Richie looks over a special collections display in the Library of Congress Main Reading Room with Ray White of the Music Division, March 8, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
5/18
Gloria Estefan performs "Dancing on the Ceiling" at the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song concert honoring Lionel Richie at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
6/18
Anthony Anderson hosts the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song concert honoring Lionel Richie at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
7/18
Andra Day performs "Hello" at the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song concert honoring Lionel Richie at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
8/18
Lionel Richie accepts the 2022 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during a tribute concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
9/18
Chris Stapleton performs "Say You, Say Me" at the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song concert honoring Lionel Richie at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
10/18
Miguel performs "You Are" at the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song concert honoring Lionel Richie at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
11/18
Boyz II Men perform "Easy" at the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song concert honoring Lionel Richie at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
12/18
Luke Bryan performs "Lady" at the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song concert honoring Lionel Richie at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
13/18
Yolanda Adams performs "Jesus is Love" at the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song concert honoring Lionel Richie at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
14/18
Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoree Lionel Richie performs at the all-star tribute concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
15/18
Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoree Lionel Richie performs at the all-star tribute concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
16/18
Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoree Lionel Richie performs at the all-star tribute concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Elaina Finkelstein/Library of Congress.
17/18
Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoree Lionel Richie performs at the all-star tribute concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Elaina Finkelstein/Library of Congress.
18/18
Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoree Lionel Richie performs at the all-star tribute concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022.
Photo by Elaina Finkelstein/Library of Congress.
About the Show
Tune in May 17 9/8c to watch Lionel Richie receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize.
The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honors living musical artists whose contributions in the field of popular song exemplify the standard of excellence associated with George and Ira Gershwin, by promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of cultural understanding; entertaining and informing audiences; and inspiring new generations of musicians.
The lineup will include performances by previous Gershwin Prize honoree Gloria Estefan, Boyz II Men, Luke Bryan, Andra Day, Chris Stapleton, Miguel, Yolanda Adams, and a special performance by honoree Lionel Richie. Actor and comedian Anthony Anderson will host the event. The concert is by invitation only.
PBS stations will broadcast the concert — “Lionel Richie: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song” — at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday,May 17 (check local listings) and on PBS.org and the PBS Video App as part of the co-produced Emmy Award-winning music series. It will also be broadcast to U.S. Department of Defense locations around the world via the American Forces Network.
The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honors living musical artists whose contributions in the field of popular song exemplify the standard of excellence associated with George and Ira Gershwin, by promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of cultural understanding; entertaining and informing audiences; and inspiring new generations of musicians.
“Lionel Richie: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song” is a co-production of WETA Washington, D.C.; Bounce, a division of Concord Music Group; and the Library of Congress. The executive producers are Carla Hayden for the Library of Congress and John F. Wilson for WETA Washington, D.C. The producers are Tim Swift and Bill Urban for Bounce; and Susan H. Vita and Jarrod MacNeil for the Library of Congress. The program director is Jerry Foley. The writer is Neal Kendall. Corporate funding is provided by Wells Fargo. Funding is also provided by AARP, Universal Music Group and ASCAP. Travel is provided by United Airlines. Funding is also provided by The Leonore S. Gershwin Trust; The Ira & Leonore Gershwin Philanthropic Fund; and William C. Burton. Major funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
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