ESTEFAN: Alright Constitution Hall, let's show the love that Mr. Lionel Richie deserves!

Yeah, woo!

♪ What is happening here.

♪ ♪ Something's going on that's not quite clear.

♪ ♪ Somebody turn on the lights.

♪ ♪ We're gonna have a party starting tonight.

♪ ♪ Oh, what a feeling.

♪ ♪ When we're dancing on the ceiling.

♪ ♪ Oh, what a feeling.

♪ ♪ When we're dancing.

♪ ♪ The room is hot and that's good.

♪ ♪ Some of my friends came by from the neighborhood.

♪ ♪ People were startin' to climb the walls.

♪ ♪ Ooh it looks like everybody is having a ball.

♪ ♪ Oh, what a feeling.

♪ ♪ When we're dancing on the ceiling.

♪ Come on, people.

♪ Oh, what a feeling.

♪ ♪ When we're dancing, dancing, dancing on the ceiling.

♪ ♪ Oh, what a feeling.

♪ ♪ When we're dancing on the ceiling.

♪ ♪ Oh, what a feeling.

♪ ♪ When we're dancing on the ceiling.

♪♪ Woo!

♪ ♪ Yeah, baby!

♪ Everybody starts to lose control when ♪ ♪ the music is right.

♪ And this is.

♪ If you see somebody hangin' around don't get uptight.

♪ ♪ The only thing we want to do tonight.

♪ ♪ Is go 'round and 'round.

♪ ♪ And turn upside down.

♪ ♪ Come on let's dance now!

♪ Let me see those hands, come on!

Yeah.

♪ So come on, let's get loose.

♪ ♪ Don't hold back 'cause ain't no use.

♪ ♪ It's hard to keep your feet on the ground.

♪ ♪ 'Cause when we like to party.

♪ ♪ We only want to get down.

♪ Come on, get up!

♪ Oh, what a feeling.

♪ ♪ When we're dancing on the ceiling.

♪ Feel free.

♪ Oh, what a feeling.

♪ ♪ What a feeling, what a feeling, ♪ ♪ what a feeling, Lionel!

♪ ♪ When we're dancing on the ceiling.

♪ ♪ Oh, what a feeling.

♪ ♪ You got us dancing on the ceiling.

♪ ♪ Oh, what a feeling.

♪ ♪ When we're dancing on the ceiling.

♪♪ Yes, sir!

(audience applause) Thank you!.

ANNOUNCER: From Washington D.C., the Library of Congress, our nation's oldest federal cultural institution, presents the 2022 Gershwin Prize For Popular Song with an all-star tribute to this year's honoree, Lionel Richie.

Performances by Yolanda Adams.

Boyz II Men.

Luke Bryan.

Andra Day.

Gloria Estefan.

Miguel.

Chris Stapleton and Lionel Richie.

And your host, Anthony Anderson.

Now, please welcome, 11-time Emmy Award nominated actor and producer, Anthony Anderson.

(audience applause) ANDERSON: Alright, good evening, good evening.

How's everybody doing this evening?

(crowd cheers).

Welcome to the 2022 Gershwin Prize For Popular Song.

And tonight, we celebrate one of the greatest artists this nation has ever produced, my friend, Lionel Richie.

(audience applause) Now, I don't know about all of you, but I'm just glad to be out of the house, alright?.

Had they told me this was a Zoom meeting, I would have just been crying all night long.

Alright, but tonight, we're here, we're wearing proper pants, and we are honoring a man whose music has been the soundtrack of so many of our lives.

It is hard to think of an artist who's had such an eclectic and wide-ranging fan base for so long.

Black or white, Republican or Democrat, Coke or Pepsi... (audience laughter) Now, if you don't love Lionel Richie, something is wrong with you.

Right?

In fact, maybe we should send Lionel to Congress.

Right?

We don't want to do that to you, Lionel.

We don't want to lose you.

And has anyone in the history of music ever had a better afro and mustache than this man right here?

Let's look at that.

Look at that sexy man.

That's easy like Sunday morning?

No, that's hot like fish grease on Saturday night!

Alright, now, let's get back to the reason why we're here...

The incredible American songbook of Lionel Richie.

Here to perform one of Lionel's most enduring hits, please welcome the fantastically talented, Andra Day.

(audience applause) ♪ ♪ ♪ DAY: 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?

♪ ♪ I can see it in your eyes.

♪ ♪ I can see it in your heart.

♪ ♪ You're all I've ever wanted and my arms are open wide.

♪ ♪ 'Cause you know just what to say.

♪ ♪ And you know just what to do.

♪ ♪ And I want to tell you so much.

♪ ♪ I love you.

♪ ♪ I long to see the sunlight in your hair.

♪ ♪ And tell you time and time again how much I care.

♪ ♪ Sometimes I feel my heart will overflow.

♪ ♪ Hello, I've just got to let you know.

♪ ♪ 'Cause I wonder where you are.

♪ ♪ And I wonder what you do.

♪ ♪ Are you somewhere feeling lonely?

♪ ♪ Or is someone loving you?

♪ ♪ Tell me how to win your heart.

♪ ♪ Cause I haven't got a clue ♪ ♪ But let me start by saying.

♪ ♪ I, I love you.

♪ ♪ I love you.

♪ ♪ I love you.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Hello, is it me you're looking for?

♪ ♪ 'Cause I wonder where you are.

♪ ♪ And I wonder what you do.

♪ ♪ Are you somewhere feeling lonely?

♪ ♪ Or is someone loving you?

♪ ♪ Tell me how to win your heart.

♪ ♪ Cause, I haven't got a clue ♪ ♪ But let me start by saying.

♪ ♪ I, I love you.

♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, whoa, no-no.

♪♪ Thank you.

Lionel, we love you.

Thank you so much.

ANNOUNCER: Please Welcome United States Senator, Shelley Moore Capito.

Committee on Rules and Administration.

US House Of Representatives Majority Whip, Jim Clyburn.

US House Of Representatives Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Joyce Beatty.

US House Of Representatives, Bryan Steil.

Committee on House Administration.

US House Of Representatives, Teresea Leger Fernandez.

Joint Committee on the Library.

And The Librarian Of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden.

(audience applause).

HAYDEN: Well, hello and good evening.

We're just getting started and we will definitely have you dancing on the ceiling here in beautiful Constitution Hall, tonight.

After the past two years, it has been wonderful that music can bring us back together.

And even when we face problems and disagree on issues, songs can show us what we have in common.

That is why it is so appropriate that we are here tonight to celebrate the legendary career and music of Mr. Lionel Richie.

In so many ways the Gershwin Prize was made for Lionel Richie, whose music has entertained and inspired us for decades and helped strengthen and uplift our spirits.

His songs have become part of the fabric of pop music.

He has won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and four Grammy awards.

And tonight, it is our privilege to add one more honor to his prestigious list of awards.

Bestowed in recognition of the legendary songwriting team of George and Ira Gershwin.

The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song celebrates the work of artists whose careers reflect their influence, impact and achievement of our time.

Tonight we add Lionel Richie to the pantheon of artists following the Gershwins.

His artistry, humanity and enduring popularity make him so deserving of this high honor.

So, please let us give a heartfelt ovation to the 2022 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoree, Lionel Richie.

(audience applause).

(audience applause).

RICHIE: Now, that, um...

This is absolutely outrageous.

This is about as surreal...

This is an amazing honor.

As my grandmother would say, this is about as high-cotton as you're ever gonna get.

(laughter and applause) There are times in a person's life when the gravity of what happens along the way of your journey, happens to culminate to one particular place.

From a small-town guy in, from Tuskegee, Alabama... To a group called the Commodores... (audience applause).

And to now be standing in front of the members of Congress and the Library of Congress and the Gershwin Award.

Do you understand what that, what I'm saying here?

I mean, that's that's, that's ridiculous.

Uh, let me just quote a statement here.

My dad said to me years ago, "It would be best that you play with this band for just a little while and then continue on with your studies because I want you to be able to make sure you have a job."

(audience laughter).

Uh, he gave me some advice and then realizing that I was not going to leave the band quite as soon as possible, he came back and put a little more pressure on me.

He said, "Son, I need you to focus.

It is time for you to let that old band alone and I want you to now move on with your studies."

And then success happened and Barbara Walters was interviewing my father and my dad said, "It is the job of every parent to stand firmly behind the child and support them in their endeavors."

That brother was lying through his teeth.

But I realized at that point that I had done something significant.

I had a chance to say to my parents, "I told you so."

Now, tonight, tonight, let me just say that, um, this has been a journey.

An amazing journey that started out with not really having an idea of what was going to happen the next 40 years of my life.

But along the way I've gotten some endearing advice.

Henry Mancini, Sammy Cohn, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles...

The old school.

And they said to me, 'son, just lean forward and if God is humming to you you'll be the luckiest guy on the planet.'

Well, God did hum to me and what's happening... (audience applause).

I'm celebrating, tonight, a collaboration of me and God because we made a pact, or I made a pact to him, her, them or they.

(audience applause).

I wanna make sure that's correct.

I made a pact that, if you allow me to be a lyricist, and to write words that touch people I will make sure that I get the message that love, love is the only answer to everything we're doing.

I said it last night.

I said it last night and I'll say it tonight.

I travel the world and all people really want me to say is, "I love you."

All they want to hear is, "I love you."

They all have mothers, they all have fathers, they all have sisters and brothers and family... We're all one big family.

There's no place else to go, there's no place else that we live.

So, as I travel around the world I realize we're all the same.

We may live in different places, but these songs are as popular on the other side of the world as they are here in D.C.

I love you is forever.

The only words that the world wants to hear and the day we finally realize that we're a family and not a tribe.

We're a family and not a party.

We're a family.

The day that happens, we will clearly be united together as one.

Thank you very much.

(audience applause).

Thank you!

(audience applause).

ANNOUNCER: Please welcome, 5-time Grammy-Winning Singer-Songwriter, Chris Stapleton.

(audience applause) ♪ ♪ ♪ STAPLETON: Say you, say me.

♪ ♪ Say it for always.

♪ ♪ That's the way it should be.

♪ ♪ Say you, say me.

♪ ♪ Say it together.

♪ ♪ Naturally.

♪ ♪ I had a dream.

♪ ♪ I had an awesome dream.

♪ ♪ People in the park playing games after dark.

♪ ♪ And what they played was a masquerade.

♪ ♪ From behind the walls of doubt a voice was crying out.

♪ ♪ Say you, say me.

♪ ♪ Say it for always.

♪ ♪ That's the way it should be.

♪ ♪ Say you, say me.

♪ ♪ Oh, say it together naturally.

♪ ♪ As we go down life's lonesome highway.

♪ ♪ Seems the hardest thing to do.

♪ ♪ Is to find a friend or two.

♪ ♪ That helping hand someone who understands.

♪ ♪ That when you feel you've lost your way.

♪ ♪ You've got someone there to say.

♪ ♪ I'll show you.

♪ ♪ Say you, say me.

♪ ♪ Say it for always that's the way it should be.

♪ ♪ Say you, say me say it together.

♪ ♪ Naturally.

♪ ♪ So you think you know the answers.

♪ ♪ Oh no well the whole world has got you dancing.

♪ ♪ That's right, I'm telling you.

♪ ♪ It's time to start believing oh yes.

♪ ♪ Believing who you are.

♪ ♪ You are a shining star.

♪ ♪ Say you, say me.

♪ ♪ Say it for always.

♪ ♪ Aw that's the way it should be.

♪ ♪ Say you, say me.

♪ ♪ Say it together naturally ♪ ♪ Say it together.

♪ ♪ Naturally.

♪♪ (audience applause).

♪ ANDERSON: Say you, say me.

♪ ♪ Say it for always.

♪ ♪ That's the way it should be.

♪♪ Give it up for Chris Stapleton, everybody!

The next song is one of my all-time favorite Lionel Richie songs.

In fact, if I had a nickel for every time I played this as I was driving through the hood, uh, I could have helped pay for the Build Back Better bill.

Is it too soon for Build Back Better bill jokes?

Too soon?

Nancy Pelosi, are you in the building, is it too soon?

Here to perform the timeless classic “You Are” please welcome Grammy-winning artist, Miguel.

(audience applause).

MIGUEL: Mmmmm.

Everybody feel good?

(audience applause).

♪ Baby you'll find.

♪ ♪ There's only one love, yours and mine.

♪ ♪ I've got so much love.

♪ ♪ And needing you so.

♪ ♪ My love for you I'll never let go.

♪ ♪ I've got so much love.

♪ ♪ All I want is to hold you.

♪ ♪ Let me show how much I love you baby ♪ ♪ (Show you).

♪ ♪ I don't mind, I don't mind.

♪ ♪ (Loving you).

♪ ♪ Girl I love you.

♪ ♪ There's no one above you.

♪ ♪ You are the sun you are the rain.

♪ ♪ That makes my life this foolish game.

♪ ♪ You need to know I love you so.

♪ ♪ And I'd do it all again and again.

♪ ♪ Whoa-oh, whoa-oh.

♪ ♪ Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.

♪ ♪ Tell me it's true.

♪ ♪ I can't believe you do what you do.

♪ ♪ I've got so much love.

♪ ♪ And my love you'll see.

♪ ♪ We'll stay together, just you and me.

♪ ♪ I've got so much love.

♪ ♪ Only you.

♪ ♪ (know me).

♪ ♪ Tell me how to love you baby.

♪ ♪ (show me).

♪ ♪ I don't mind and I don't mind.

♪ ♪ (tell me).

♪ ♪ Girl, I love you.

♪ ♪ Always thinking of you.

♪ ♪ You are the sun, you are the rain.

♪ ♪ That makes my life this foolish game.

♪ ♪ You need to know I love you so.

♪ ♪ And I'd do it all again and again.

♪ ♪ Whoa-oh, whoa-oh.

♪ ♪ Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.

♪ ♪ Whoa-oh.

♪ ♪ I know you know the way I feel.

♪ ♪ I need your love for always, girl.

♪ ♪ When I'm with you I fall in love.

♪ ♪ Again and again and again, baby.

♪ ♪ You are the sun, you are the rain.

♪ ♪ That makes my life this foolish game.

♪ ♪ You need to know I love you so.

♪ ♪ And I'll do it all again and again.

♪ Sing.

♪ Whoa-oh, whoa-oh.

♪ ♪ Whoa-oh-oh -oh-oh-oh-oh.

♪ ♪ Whoa-oh, whoa-oh.

♪ ♪ Whoa-oh-oh -oh-oh-oh-oh.

♪♪ ANNOUNCER: Please welcome, 4-time Grammy-winning Group, Boyz II Men.

(audience applause) (piano).

♪ NATHAN: I know it sounds funny ♪ ♪ but I just can't stand the pain.

♪ ♪ Girl, I'm leaving you tomorrow.

♪ ♪ Seems to me, girl you know I've done all I can.

♪ ♪ You see, I begged, stole, and I borrowed.

♪ ♪ Oh, ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh, that's why I'm easy.

♪ ♪ (Ah-ah-ah-ahhh).

♪ ♪ I'm easy like Sunday morning, yeah.

♪ ♪ (Ah-ah-ah-ahhh).

♪ ♪ That's why I'm easy, yeah.

♪ ♪ (Ah-ah-ah-ahhh).

♪ ♪ I'm easy like Sunday morning.

♪ ♪ SHAWN: Oh.

♪ ♪ Why in the world would anybody put chains ♪ ♪ on me, hey, yeah?

♪ ♪ See, I've paid my dues to make it.

♪ ♪ (Paid my dues to make it).

♪ ♪ Everybody wants me to be who they ♪ ♪ want me to be.

♪ ♪ I'm not happy when I try to fake it.

♪ ♪ Whoa-whoa, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ That's why I'm easy, yeah.

♪ ♪ (Ah-ah-ah-ahhh).

♪ ♪ I'm easy like Sunday morning.

♪ ♪ Oh, ho-ho.

♪ ♪ (Ah-ah-ah-ahhh).

♪ ♪ That's why I'm easy, yeah.

♪ ♪ (Ah-ah-ah-ahhh).

♪ ♪ I'm easy like Sunday morning.

♪ ♪ WANYA: Oh, I wanna be high, oh so high.

♪ ♪ I wanna be free to know the things I feel are right.

♪ ♪ I wanna be free.

♪ ♪ Oh, just me.

♪ ♪ Oh baby, oh, baby.

♪ SHAWN: Ladies and Gentlemen, put your hands together like this.

Come on, here we go!

Everybody!

♪ ♪ (Shawn scatting) ♪ ♪ SHAWN: You can sing, everybody.

♪ WANYA: That's why I'm easy.

♪ ♪ (Ah-ah-ah-ahhh).

♪ ♪ I'm easy like Sunday morning, yeah.

♪ ♪ (Ah-ah-ah-ahhh).

♪ ♪ That's why I'm easy.

♪ ♪ (Ah-ah-ah-ahhh).

♪ ♪ I'm easy like Sunday morning.

♪ SHAWN: One more time, everybody put your hands to the sky, like this!

Everybody, hands in the sky.

Go, here we go.

♪ WANYA: I'm easy.

♪ ♪ (Ah-ah-ah-ahhh).

♪ SHAWN: Give it up for Lionel Richie, y'all.

♪ WANYA: Easy like Sunday morning, hey, hey.

♪ ♪ (Ah-ah-ah-ahhh).

♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm easy, whoa-oh-whoa-oh.

♪ ♪ (Ah-ah-ah-ahhh).

♪ ♪ Easy like Sunday morning, ♪ ♪ Sunday morning, whoa.

♪ ♪ ALL: I'm easy.

♪ ♪ Easy, ooh, like Sunday morning.

♪ ♪ So, so, so, so, easy.

♪ ♪ I'm easy, easy, ooh like Sunday morning.

♪ ♪ Morning.

♪♪ SHAWN: Thank you.

Thank you, Lionel.

Thank you.

(audience applause).

ANTHONY: I've got to admit one of my favorite Lionel Richie lyrics are... ♪ I wanna be high, so high.

♪♪ I'm just saying.

Cause I want to be free to know the things I do is alright.

♪ I wanna be free.

♪♪ I also, also wanted to be in a band.

I'm sorry, Lionel.

I don't know any of your songs on the piano, uh, but I'm gonna play something just to show the audience that, you know, I'm not just funny with good looks.

Band, follow along with me if you can.

(audience laughter).

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Band, you messed me up!

Let me play this by myself, okay.

I'll call and ask for some help, thank you.

Nothing speaks to the reach and range of Lionel Richie's greatness more than this next song.

As he began to think about a solo career after the Commodores, Lionel was asked to write and produce a song for Kenny Rogers.

That song not only became the biggest hit of Kenny Rogers' career, it was also one of the biggest hits of the decade.

Here to perform “Lady", please welcome 5-time country music Entertainer of the Year and Lionel's fellow American Idol judge... Give it up for, Luke Bryan!

BRYAN: Thanks!

That was a good job.

Lionel.

So, you know how we all have bad days.

I wake up, I have a bad day and then I tell myself somewhere Lionel Richie ain't having a bad day, so you better have a good day.

To be here for nights like this means the world to me.

Wouldn't miss it for the world and this guy is everything you believe he is, I promise you.

So, I'm honored to be here.

Anthony got up here and messed my whole world up.

Moved all my stuff around.

Let's do it.

♪ ♪ ♪ Lady.

♪ ♪ I'm your knight in shining armor and I love you.

♪ ♪ You have made me what I am, and.

♪ ♪ I am yours.

♪ ♪ My love.

♪ ♪ There's so many ways I want to say I love you.

♪ ♪ Let me hold you in my arms forever more.

♪ ♪ You have gone and made me such a fool.

♪ ♪ I'm so lost in your love.

♪ ♪ And oh, we belong together.

♪ ♪ Won't you believe in my song?

♪ ♪ Lady.

♪ ♪ For so many years I thought I'd never find you.

♪ ♪ You have come into my life and.

♪ ♪ Made me whole.

♪ ♪ Forever.

♪ ♪ Let me wake to see you each and every morning.

♪ ♪ Let me hear you whisper softly.

♪ ♪ In my ear.

♪ ♪ Woo!

♪ ♪ In my eyes.

♪ ♪ I see no one else but you.

♪ ♪ There's no other love like our love.

♪ ♪ And, oh yes, you know I'll always want you near me.

♪ ♪ I've waited for you so very long.

♪ ♪ Lady.

♪ ♪ Your love's the only love I need.

♪ ♪ Beside me ♪ ♪ Is where I want you to be.

♪ ♪ And my love ♪ ♪ There's somethin' I want you to know.

♪ ♪ You're the love of my life.

♪ ♪ You're my lady.

♪ ♪ ♪ Woo!

Thank you.

Thank you, Lionel.

ANNOUNCER: Please welcome, Grammy-winning Gospel great, Yolanda Adams.

(audience applause).

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ADAMS: Father.

♪ ♪ Help your children.

♪ ♪ And don't let them fall.

♪ ♪ By the side of the road, ooh.

♪ ♪ And teach them to love one another.

♪ ♪ That Heaven might find.

♪ ♪ A place in their hearts.

♪ ♪ 'Cause Jesus is love.

♪ ♪ He won't let you down.

♪ ♪ And I know He's mine.

♪ ♪ Forever, oh, in my heart.

♪ ♪ We've got to walk on.

♪ ♪ Walk on through temptation.

♪ ♪ 'Cause His love and His wisdom.

♪ ♪ Will be our helping hand.

♪ ♪ I know the truth of His word ♪ ♪ Will be our salvation.

♪ ♪ Oh, lift up our hearts.

♪ ♪ To be thankful and glad.

♪ ♪ (Do all the things that you can).

♪ ♪ I know that Jesus.

♪ ♪ (Power).

♪ ♪ His love is real and I know it is.

♪ ♪ If you ask me, I'll show you.

♪ ♪ That He is divine.

♪ ♪ And he is yours and mine.

♪ ♪ Forever and ever and ever and ever.

♪ ♪ His love is a power.

♪ ♪ It is the glory.

♪ ♪ Oh, forever and ever, and ever, and ever, ♪ ♪ and ever, and ever.

♪ ♪ Yes He is, yes He is, ♪ ♪ Yes He is, yes He is, yes He is.

♪ ♪ Who can bring you love?

♪ ♪ (Jesus) ♪ ♪ Who can bring you joy?

♪ ♪ (Jesus) ♪ ♪ Who can turn your life around?

♪ ♪ I'm a witness.

♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

♪ ♪ He will, he will.

♪ ♪ He will pick you up.

♪ ♪ (Jesus).

♪ ♪ Oh, when you fall.

♪ ♪ (Jesus) ♪ ♪ He'll help you hold out .

♪ ♪ (Jesus).

♪ ♪ A little while longer.

♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah.

♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah.

♪ ♪ Jesus loves you, Jesus wants you.

♪ ♪ If you call Him, He will answer.

♪ ♪ Cause He is love!

♪♪ (audience applause).

Bless you.

ANNOUNCER: Please welcome the Chairman of the Library Of Congress James Madison Counsel, David Rubenstein.

(audience applause) RUBENSTEIN: For more than two centuries, the Library of Congress has been dedicated in collecting and preserving our nation's extraordinary treasures.

It has grown to become the largest library in the world with more than 173 million items including the papers of 23 presidents, history makers, creative geniuses and music legends like George and Ira Gershwin.

(audience applause).

The unparalleled collections of the Library of Congress have, in no small part, been built by America's citizens themselves; truly collections for and by the people.

From Stradivari violins to James Madison's flute and from Irving Berlin's manuscript scores for “God Bless America” to the papers of Leonard Bernstein, Oscar Hammerstein, Jonathan Larson, and Jessye Norman, the Library has received an amazing array of materials that collectively chronicle centuries of human achievement in music, culture and the arts.

The generosity and bigheartedness of many have built your nation's library.

Tonight's Gershwin Prize honoree, Lionel Richie, has the same compassion and empathy in building a better world and in reminding all of us of our shared humanity.

(audience applause) ANDERSON: Ladies and Gentlemen...

The 2022 recipient of the Gershwin Prize For Popular Song, Mr. Lionel Richie!

(audience applause).

RICHIE: Thank you.

Thank you very much, thank you very much!

I had the pleasure of writing "We Are the World" with my dear friend, Michael Jackson.

This song is still very powerful today and the words are still as relevant today as it was then.

Would you all join me in singing, "We Are the World"?

(audience applause).

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ There comes a time.

♪ ♪ When we heed a certain call.

♪ ♪ When the world must come together as one.

♪ ♪ There are people dying.

♪ ♪ Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life.

♪ ♪ The greatest gift of all.

♪ ♪ We can't go on.

♪ ♪ Pretending day-by-day.

♪ ♪ That someone, somewhere will soon make a change.

♪ ♪ We're all a part of God's great big family.

♪ ♪ And the truth, you know, love is all we need.

♪ Everybody sing now!

♪ ALL: We are the world.

♪ RICHIE: Stand up, y'all.

♪ ALL: We are the children.

♪ ♪ We are the ones who make a brighter day.

♪ ♪ So let's start giving.

♪ There's a choice we're making!

♪ There's a choice we're making.

♪ ♪ We're saving our own lives.

♪ ♪ It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me.

♪ ♪ Everybody sing together.

♪ ♪ Come on, now!

♪ ♪ (We are the world).

♪ ♪ We are the world.

♪ ♪ (We are the children).

♪ ♪ We are the children.

♪ ♪ (We are the ones to make a brighter day, ♪ ♪ so let's start giving).

♪ ♪ Oh, there's a choice we're making.

♪ ♪ We're saving our own lives.

♪ ♪ It's true we'll make a better day, ♪ ♪ Just you and me.

♪ Sing now!

♪ (It's true we make a better day, just you and me).

♪ ♪ It's true.

We make a better day.

♪ ♪ (Just you and me).

♪ ♪ Just you and me, y'all.

♪♪ God bless the world, God bless you all.

(music ends).

(audience applause).

Alright, let's take it to another stage now.

While you're up, you might as well stay up... Because if you're going to be here all night long... Let's play, "All Night Long"!

♪ Well, my friends, the time has come.

♪ ♪ To raise the roof and have some fun.

♪ ♪ Throw away the work to be done.

♪ ♪ Get ready now.

♪ ♪ Let the music play on, play on, play on, play on.

♪ ♪ Everybody sing, everybody dance.

♪ ♪ Lose yourselves in wild romance.

♪ ♪ We're going to Party, Karamu, Fiesta, forever.

♪ ♪ Come on and sing along!

♪ ♪ We're going to Party, Karamu, Fiesta, forever.

♪ ♪ Come on!

♪ ♪ Come on and sing along!

♪ ♪ Everybody, all night long.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night long.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night long.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night long.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ Yeah, watch me now.

♪ ♪ Oh, once you get started you can't sit down.

♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Come join the fun, it's a merry-go-round.

♪ ♪ Ha!

♪ ♪ People are dancing their troubles away.

♪ ♪ Get ready, y'all.

♪ ♪ Come join our party, see how we play!

♪ ♪ Everybody clap your hands, right here!

♪ ♪ Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on!

♪ ♪ Huh, come on!

♪ ♪ Come on, said, tam bo li de say de moi ya.

♪ Your turn!

♪ (Hey Jambo Jumbo) ♪ ♪ Way to parti o we goin'?

♪ ♪ (Oh, jambali).

♪ ♪ Tam bo li de say de moi ya.

♪ ♪ Yeah, Jambo, jumbo.

♪ ♪ Whoa-o-o-o, yes!

♪ ♪ We're going to have a party!

♪ ♪ Ugh-ugh, all night long.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night long.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night long.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night long.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ Yeah!

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ Said everyone you meet.

♪ ♪ They're jamming in the street.

♪ ♪ All night long!

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ Yeah, I said everyone you meet.

♪ ♪ They'll be jamming in the street.

♪ ♪ All night long!

♪ ♪ (All night) ♪ ♪ Everybody clap your hands, right here.

♪ ♪ Feel good, feel good!

♪ ♪ (All night, all night).

♪ ♪ (All night, all night).

♪ ♪ Yeah, everyone!

♪ ♪ (All night, all night).

♪ ♪ (scatting).

♪ ♪ All night long.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night.

♪ ♪ All night long.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night.

♪ ♪ All night long.

♪ ♪ (All night).

♪ ♪ All night.

♪ ♪ All night long.

♪ ♪ Huh!

♪♪ Good night, everybody!

Thank you!

(music ends).

(audience applause).

Where are my friends?

NARRATOR: Missed a moment?

Watch this online and learn more about the Gershwin Prize by visiting pbs.org/gershwinprize.

And join the conversation online with #GershwinPrizePBS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ RICHIE: Everybody take a bow, come on!

♪ ♪ (music ends) (audience applause)