Who Is Brenda Harvey-Richie? Wiki, Age, Husband, Children, Net Worth, Parents & More

Brenda Harvey-Richie is a woman of many talents and achievements. She is a music composer, an entrepreneur, a reality TV personality, and a philanthropist. She is also the ex-wife of Lionel Richie, one of the most successful singers and songwriters of all time, and the adoptive mother of Nicole Richie, a famous fashion designer and actress.
Brenda Harvey-Richie Wiki/Bio
Name | Brenda Harvey-Richie |
---|---|
Birth date | September 2, 1952 |
Birth place | Brewton, Alabama, USA |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | African-American |
Religion | Christianity |
Education | Tuskegee University (BA in Social Work) |
Profession | Entrepreneur, music composer, reality TV personality |
Ex-husband | Lionel Richie (m. 1975, div. 1993) |
Children | Nicole Richie (adopted) |
Grandchildren | Harlow and Sparrow Madden |
Parents | Marshall Harvey and Lucille Harvey |
Siblings | Stephen Harvey and Perri Reid |
Social media | Twitter – @BrendaRichie Instagram- @brendahrichie Homepage- Newsunzip |
Birthday Parents and Education

Brenda Harvey-Richie was born on September 2, 1952 (age: 71 years, as of 2023), in Brewton, Alabama. She is the daughter of Marshall Harvey, a veteran of World War II, and Lucille Harvey, a homemaker. She grew up in a loving and supportive family and was always interested in music and arts.
She attended Tuskegee University, a historically black college in Alabama, where she met Lionel Richie, who was a member of the musical group The Commodores. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work in 1974 and married Lionel the following year.
Marriage, Ex-Husband and Daughters

Brenda Harvey-Richie and Lionel Richie had a happy and prosperous marriage for many years. They supported each other’s careers and dreams and enjoyed traveling and socializing with their friends. They also adopted a baby girl named Nicole, who was born to their friends Karen Moss and Peter Michael Escovedo, who were struggling financially and emotionally. Nicole became their pride and joy, and they raised her with love and care.
However, their marriage was not without problems. Lionel became a superstar in the 1980s, with hits like “Hello”, “All Night Long”, and “Say You, Say Me”. He also became involved in an affair with Diane Alexander, a dancer and model. She discovered the affair in 1988 when she followed Lionel to Alexander’s apartment and confronted them. She was arrested for assault, trespassing, and vandalism, and the incident made headlines around the world.

She and Lionel separated after the scandal but did not divorce until 1993. They had a bitter and costly divorce, with Brenda receiving $20 million in the settlement. They also had a custody battle over Nicole, who was 11 years old at the time. She eventually won custody, but Lionel remained involved in Nicole’s life.
Sofia Richie Grainge Shows Off Her Baby Bump and Shares Her Pregnancy Journey
Sofia Richie Grainge, the daughter of music legend Lionel Richie and the sister of TV star Nicole Richie, has some exciting news to share. She is pregnant with her first child, a baby girl, with her husband Elliot Grainge, a music executive and the founder of 10K Projects. She revealed the news in an exclusive interview with Vogue, where she also showed off her baby bump in a stunning photo shoot.
Sofia and Elliot got married in April 2023, after a whirlwind romance that started as a friendship. Sofia told Vogue that she knew Elliot was her husband from the moment they started dating. “He just gave me a different feeling. It was a feeling of safety. It was the feeling of really being appreciated. I felt this love for him that I never felt ever in my life,” she said.
The couple found out they were expecting a baby after Sofia returned from Milan Fashion Week last fall. She thought she was jet-lagged, but it turned out to be morning sickness. They surprised their parents with the news by hiding positive pregnancy tests in designer gift boxes. “Watching their reaction go from like, ‘I’m about to get an expensive present’ to like ‘I’m about to get a grandchild’ was really sweet,” Sofia said.
Sofia and Elliot also had a fun gender reveal party, where they popped a pink party popper to announce they were having a girl. Sofia said she always dreamed of having a daughter, and Elliot was also thrilled. “He’s very sensitive. He has a lot of sisters. It was really sweet,” she said.
Sofia said she has learned a lot from her pregnancy journey, and she is amazed by what the female body can do. “Every week brings new things, whether it’s hormonal shifts or expansion — there’s just so much our bodies go through, and it’s so interesting to experience it all,” she said.
Sofia also said she has been more selective about what she shares on social media, where she has millions of followers. She said she wanted to keep some aspects of her life private, and she also wanted to avoid negative comments and judgments. “I’m definitely not posting as much. It’s been hard for me to have that connection with my followers when I can’t really be honest,” she said.
Sofia said she is looking forward to welcoming her baby girl in the late spring, and she is enjoying her life as a newlywed. She said she feels calm and relaxed with Elliot, and they have a lot of fun together. “We don’t live out our whole lives on Instagram. We know when to turn it off,” she said. “Being married is the best. When we’re together, it’s just calm and quiet.”
Career and Business

Brenda Harvey-Richie did not let the divorce ruin her life. She focused on her career and business, and proved herself to be a talented and savvy woman. She is a music composer and owns a publishing company called BRP Publishing, which holds the rights to Lionel’s songs. She also has a production company called Brenda Richie Productions, which produces films and TV shows.
She is also a reality TV personality, who has appeared in shows like “The Simple Life”, “Candidly Nicole”, and “American Idol”. She is known for her witty and candid personality and her close relationship with her daughter Nicole.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 ft 4 inches or 1.63 m
- Weight: 60 kg or 132 lbs
- Eye color: Black
- Body measurements: 34-26-35 inches
- Skin color: Brown
- Hair color: Black
Philanthropy and Activism
Brenda Harvey-Richie is also a philanthropist and an activist, who supports various causes and charities. She is a board member of the United Negro College Fund, which provides scholarships and educational opportunities for African American students. She is also a supporter of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the American Heart Association, and the Alzheimer’s Association.
She is also passionate about politics and social justice. She is a vocal critic of Donald Trump and his policies, and a supporter of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. She is also an advocate for women’s rights, racial equality, and environmental protection. She uses her social media platforms to express her opinions and raise awareness about the issues that matter to her.
Net Worth and Lifestyle

Brenda Harvey-Richie has an estimated net worth of over $15 million, according to various sources. She earns money from her music, production, and publishing businesses, as well as from her reality TV appearances and endorsements. She lives a comfortable and luxurious lifestyle, with a mansion in Beverly Hills, California, and a collection of cars and jewelry.
She also enjoys traveling, shopping, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She is close with her daughter Nicole, who is married to Joel Madden, the lead singer of Good Charlotte, and has two children, Harlow Madden and Sparrow Madden. She is also friendly with Lionel, who married Diane Alexander in 1995, and had two children with her, Miles and Sofia. She has a good relationship with Lionel’s children and often attends their events and celebrations.
Brenda Harvey-Richie is a remarkable woman, who has overcome many challenges and achieved many successes. She is a music composer, an entrepreneur, a reality TV personality, and a philanthropist. She is also the ex-wife of Lionel Richie, and the adoptive mother of Nicole Richie. She is a woman of strength, grace, and wisdom, who inspires many people with her story and her spirit.