Lionel Richie is framing himself as the ultimate doting grandfather, reveling in every moment with baby Henry and big sister Eloise. He's painting a picture of multigenerational bliss—Pop Pop present, engaged, and overjoyed to be part of his grandchildren's lives. Classic PR move: emphasize family values and the sweet side of aging into grandparenthood.
But wait—that little comment about Sofia and Elliot wanting to "get him away from the baby"? That's not just a joke. Sources close to the family have hinted there's been some gentle tension about Lionel's very hands-on approach with Henry. At 75, he's clearly not slowing down, and his enthusiasm might be bordering on overwhelming for new parents navigating their own rhythm.
Lionel Richie spoke exclusively to E! News at the King's Trust fifth annual gala in New York City on April 29, 2026—one month after Sofia welcomed baby Henry. He is also Pop Pop to Nicole Richie and Joel Madden's kids Harlow (18) and Sparrow (16), plus Eloise (23 months). At 75 years old, Lionel joked that Sofia and Elliot "wanna get me away from the baby."
Lionel Richie's grandpa energy is apparently so powerful that his own daughter wants a break from him. But given how much he's gushed about every grandbaby—remember when he said of newborn Eloise, 'I could just stick her in my pocket and take her around town'—this family might want to invest in bigger houses with more rooms.
Lionel Richie is officially the most obsessed grandfather in music royalty, and honestly? He seems completely unbothered about hiding it. The 75-year-old "All Night Long" singer exclusively told E!
News at the King's Trust fifth annual gala in New York City on April 29 that he's been reveling in his new role as Pop Pop to baby Henry Grainge—born roughly one month prior—and honestly, he sounds like a man who has found his calling. "I'm so happy about that," Lionel said with unmistakable warmth. "Pop Pop is here." But before you think this is just another sweet celebrity grandparent moment, consider: the music legend also teased that daughter Sofia Richie and her husband Elliot Grainge are trying to give him some space.
"At this point, they wanna get me away from the baby," he revealed with a laugh that probably didn't land as joking to anyone who's seen his Instagram feed lately. For context on just how deep Lionel's grandbaby obsession runs: he's also Pop Pop to Nicole Richie and Joel Madden's children Harlow, 18, and Sparrow, 16—and apparently still finds room in his heart for maximum baby engagement with Sofia's kids.
When Sofia and Elliot welcomed their daughter Eloise back in October 2024, Lionel immediately told E!, "I could just stick her in my pocket and take her around town. Amazing." The man has form when it comes to aggressive grandparenting, and Henry is clearly his latest fixation. But here's where things get interesting—and by interesting, I mean borderline chaotic for new parents trying to establish their own routine.
Lionel reflected on what he called "that stage of the baby part where the leg becomes a drumstick and you just can't keep your mouth off of the little drumstick." He added, with zero irony: "You can just blow on the stomach and the little smile comes on the face." Between that level of enthusiasm and his admitted desire to be near Henry 24/7, it's easy to see why Sofia and Elliot might need a moment—or possibly a very long vacation somewhere far away.
Meanwhile, Sofia herself has been refreshingly candid about motherhood's realities. She told Vogue in January 2024: "I've learned more in the past six months than I have in my entire life... 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." So while Lionel is out here treating baby Henry like a drumstick he can't stop poking, Sofia is processing the physical and emotional whirlwind of new motherhood.
The generational divide in parenting approaches writes itself, doesn't it? At 27, Sofia has clearly found her groove as a mother to both Henry and 23-month-old Eloise, but adding Lionel's overwhelming enthusiasm into the mix might be testing even her diplomatic skills. Elliot Grainge—the Atlantic Records CEO who married Sofia in 2023—now finds himself caught between his baby-hungry father-in-law and his wife's need for space to figure out this whole parenting thing without a Grammy-winning shadow hovering over every nap time. The Richies have always been dramatic, but this particular chapter might require its own reality show.
