Lady

Album: Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits (1980)
Charted: 12 1
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Songfacts®:

  • Lionel Richie wrote this song especially for Rogers and also produced the track. When Motown Records' publishing company, Jobete Music, told Rogers that Lionel Richie wanted to write a song for him, he immediately flew to Las Vegas to meet him. Richie played a demo to Rogers, who loved the song and within a fortnight had recorded it. He said, "I love songs that are female orientated and that's the market I wanna get."
  • This followed in the footsteps of the ballads Lionel Richie wrote with his group the Commodores - songs like "Three Times A Lady" and "Sweet Love." At the time, there was a market for these over-the-top love songs where the singer proclaimed his deepest devotion in lines like, "In my eyes, I see no one else but you." Richie was better at it than anyone, and the following year, he spun gold with "Endless Love," his duet with Diana Ross. When he embarked on a solo career in 1982, he launched it with another song in this vein: "Truly."
  • The Metro newspaper asked Richie if he regretted not keeping the song for himself. He replied: "Just the opposite. When I wrote the song for Kenny, I called my lawyer and said: 'If I put my voice on this it's going to be a smash, I want it.' My lawyer said: 'If you give it to Kenny, it will be bigger than you ever thought.' Now this was true. What I did not realize was that not only did I have my crowd, I picked up all of Kenny's following too. And that happened to be the rest of the world."
  • Rogers' signature song is "The Gambler," but "Lady" is by far his biggest solo chart hit, reaching the peak of the Hot 100, Country and Adult Contemporary charts. His duet with Dolly Parton, "Islands in the Stream," also topped those charts.
  • Lionel Richie told Entertainment Weekly that this has been his most profitable song. Said Richie: "I have an estate that 'Lady' bought."
  • Lionel Richie performed "Lady" at the Grammy Awards in 2021 in honor of Kenny Rogers, who died the previous year.
  • Lionel Richie wrote the second verse of "Lady" in the men's room.

    Speaking with Drew Barrymore on her talk show March 30, 2023, Richie said Kenny Rogers asked him to write a song for him. Richie then started working on "Lady" and another track called "Goin' Back to Alabama," which later appeared on Rogers' 1981 Share Your Love album.

    While working on "Alabama," Rogers suddenly changed his mind and decided to record "Lady" first, but Richie had only completed the first verse. Richie excused himself, telling Rogers he needed to use the bathroom.

    "I'm sitting in the stall writing the second verse to 'Lady,'" Richie added. "You will do some amazing things when you're scared to death. The idea of telling Mr. Rogers that I don't have the second verse was not going to happen in my lifetime."

Comments: 10

  • Osamah Barabaa from The NetherlandsWhenever I see this video of them singing togther, it just makes me smile ^_^ .. I don't know why exactly.. they're just awesome...
  • Mister_mojo_risin from Atlanta UsaThis song is a true classic. Gives me chills every time I hear this one. Love the imagery... the songwriter lays it all on the line for this girl -- will she accept?

    and of course..props to Mr. Lionel Richie, Jr!
  • Terrence G. from Cape TownComposed by the talented Lionel Richie. Lovely fusion the day country music met r&b. Quick fact: Kenny sang all his lines dressed in his tennis attire as he had returned to the studio from a refreshing match on the court.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaShawn, mine is Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer, but like this one too.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 28th 1980, "Lady" by Kenny Rogers entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #39; and six weeks later on November 9th, 1980 it peaked at #1 {for 6 weeks} and spent almost a half-year on the Top 100 {25 weeks}...
    It also reached #1 {for 1 week} on November 16th, 1980 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
    And on the day it peaked at #1 on the Top 100 it also reached #1 {for 4 weeks} on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    Mr. Rogers celebrated his 76th birthday one month ago on August 21st {2014}.
  • Dt from Gulf Breeze, FlCertain songs make me think of certain women. Years ago dated a gal who loved Kenny Rogers and this was her favorite. Used to go to a bar where the band covered this. I'm not that crazy about KR or this song, but it was good to slow dance to.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyI have a question for other fans of Kenny Rogers; has anyone heard of a song called "Good Lady of Toronto" by Kenny. I reason I ask is that when Billboard had it's Year-End chart for the Top 100 Songs of 1981 this song was ranked as the No. 3 Song for 1981. Please copy & paste: http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1981.htm
  • Shawn from Green Bay, WiArguably, Kenny's greatest song, though I put "She Believes in Me" right with it. Beautiful, straightforward, and very moving song. One of the greatest first lines in any song- "Lady, I'm your knight in shining armor and I love you." Pretty tough to start a love song out better than that.
  • Stafler from Durban, South Africathis song touches my heart deeply
  • Sara from Beirut, Lebanongreat soooooooooong, great singer!!!!
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