Lionel Richie Worried He'd Lose His Job After Hearing 'American Idol' Contestant Perform 'Hello'

Mar 27, 2023

Lionel Richie is a well-known and respected performer in the music industry. He has been in the business for several decades, first rising to fame during the 1970s as the co-lead singer and songwriter of the Commodores. One of their biggest hits was "Three Times a Lady." 

Since then, Richie has continued to please fans and critics with his work as a singer, songwriter, musician and producer. Some of his best-known songs include "All Night Long (All Night)" and "Endless Love," with the former being a duet with the great Diana Ross. The 1985 single "Say You, Say Me" also topped the charts. Nowadays, Richie has continued to stay relevant in Hollywood and is a judge on the singing competition series "American Idol."

Since Season 16 of the beloved American reality singing competition, Richie has seen countless promising young artists audition for “American Idol.” While good singing and mind-blowing performances seemed to be something he sees almost every week, it can be quite rare for the singer to actually fear losing his own job because of a great talent in front of him. 

This was the case for Olivia Soli, a 21-year old Los Angeles native who auditioned for the Season 21 of “American Idol,” which many have considered to be a standout audition from the pack. 

Soli took a massive risk by singing perhaps Richie’s biggest song of all time, “Hello,” which sent the three judges blown away with how powerful of a singer she is. Read on to learn more about Soli’s audition on “American Idol” and how she impressed one of the best singers of all time.

“Hello” was the third single on Richie’s 1983 hit album, “Can't Slow Down.” Since the song’s release, the track was able to hit three coveted Billboard charts and the UK Singles charts. The song is also frequently used as an audition piece for many singing competitions.

During her audition, Soli was quite shy at first about revealing what her audition song would be. She then even wowed Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan when she decided to play the piano while singing it, another showcase of confidence and skill in front of Richie, who is also a great pianist. 

“I've been alone with you inside my mind, and in my dreams, I've kissed your lips a thousand times. I sometimes see you pass outside my door. Hello, is it me you're looking for?” Soli powerfully sang after Perry commented that she was “coming for” Richie’s job. 

Soli belted the last note and let out a perfect run of the song, prompting Richie to stand out in amazement. As soon as Soli finished the piece, Richie rushed to the center and said that he wanted to be the first in her long career “to rush the artist” – Richie hugged her for her amazing cover. 

Richie then noted and told Soli that she “owned” his song and praised her for interpreting it beautifully. Bryan then commented that her performance was “tremendous” and “one of the best” he had ever seen. 

“You put Lionel Richie out of a job, girl.” Perry joked as Richie agreed. “You came for him. You came for his coin.” 

After receiving more praise from the three judges with the first big “yes” coming from Richie, Soli was told that she would be returning to Hollywood – as she would be advancing to the next round. 

Wasn’t Olivia Soli’s performance amazing? Do you think she could get Lionel Richie out of his job with her powerful "Hello" performance? Let us know what you think, and pass this on to your family, friends and other Lionel Richie fans!