Lionel Richie Adopted His Eldest Daughter — A Look At Nicole Richie's Adoption Story

Aug 03, 2020

There was once a little girl who loved to play the tambourine. That little girl is now a woman who just so happens to be a successful fashion designer. Her name is Nicole Richie, and her story may surprise you. Nicole didn't get her start in a typical way. In fact, her childhood was anything but typical.

Well known as the daughter of Lionel Richie, Nicole was actually adopted by the musician when she was nine. Here, we take a look at her story.

Sheila Cecilia Escovedo, better known by her stage name, Sheila E. is Nicole Richie's aunt. When Nicole was a mere 4-year-old, she would often go backstage where her mom, Karen Moss, worked as Sheila E.'s personal assistant. During that same time period, Nicole's dad, who also happens to be Sheila E.'s brother, was earning a living as a musician on tour with pop music icon Lionel Richie.

Nicole Richie wasn't always Nicole Richie. When she was playing the tambourine backstage at Sheila E. concerts, her name was Nicole Camille Escovedo. The way she became Nicole Richie may shock you!

As the story goes, Lionel Richie happened to be backstage on a day that Nicole's parents had taken her to work with them. Richie reportedly heard the young girl playing her tambourine. That sweet scene led to a chat with Nicole's parents, who confessed to Richie that they were struggling to stay afloat financially.

Richie and his wife Brenda offered to help the Escovedo family by inviting little Nicole to come and stay with them. One thing led to another, and Nicole Escovedo became Nicole Richie when her new friends became her adoptive parents.

It's not every day that a child goes to work with her parents and winds up becoming another couple's legally adopted daughter. In 1993, Lionel and Brenda Richie's 18-year marriage ended in divorce. However, Nicole Richie the fashion designer still describes her rise to success and her childhood as "wonderful."

How many of your friends are Nicole Richie or Lionel Richie fans? Do they know that Nicole is Lionel's adopted daughter? Send them this post to surprise them with the news!