Lionel Richie and Diana Ross headline music festival from separate stages a year after he complained she wasn’t performing with him

A year after Lionel Richie lambasted Diana Ross for a long time for not joining him onstage to sing their duet “Endless Love,” it appears his longtime dream has fallen through.

The legendary artists recorded the song in 1981 for the soundtrack of Franco Zeffirelli’s film of the identical title.

Together they were stars the long awaited “Fool In Love” festival in Los Angeles, California on August 31, with some fans eagerly awaiting the historic return of the beloved ballads.

Unfortunately, they didn’t make it because Richie and Ross were speculated to perform in a few hours. apart from on different stages. Ross got here on the “Love” stage at around 8 p.m. and ended Richie’s set on the “Fool” stage, which began around 9:30 p.m.

Fan videos show Ross performing her hits “I’m Coming Out” and “Ain’t No Mountain High” Sufficiently” in a brilliant red dress and . Richie may be seen in his signature black outfit with a white jacket over it.

The lineup for the Fool In Love Festival on Saturday, August thirty first included a galaxy of soul and R&B stars, including Nile Rodgers and Chic, Ron Isley, Baby Bash, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Santana, Evelyn Champagne King, Morris Day and The Time, Al Green, The OJays and many other legendary bands.

Still, some guests were unimpressed with the usual of service they received at Hollywood Park Grounds next to SoFi Stadium.

Someone on X wrote: “@foolinlovefest could have been the worst” festival experience of a lifetime. BUT I witnessed music history: Nile Rodgers & Chic performed “Lose Yourself To Dance” live FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES!”

Other he said“Fool In Love Festival. I love this lineup. I hate the trend of having concerts NEXT to the stadium and on the hot asphalt of a parking lot. You have the money to book Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and Santana, but no money for a real venue?”

A 3rd said: “I need a full refund for @foolinlovefest that is crazy. We’ve been queuing within the sun for two hours to get in and have not even gotten through security. We’ve missed the Spinners and the Jacksons and now Dionne Warwick. The organization is crap and poorly planned #foolinlovefest.”

The video shows Ross bringing her grandchildren on stage.

When asked about his experience, the identical fan replied: further“A lot of problems with sound and microphones. It was a huge mistake that they put Smokey Robinson and Al Greene across the parking lot and there wasn’t enough room to accommodate the 20,000 people who went there. Same thing happened with Kool & Gang, across from Diana. These artists deserve to be on the main stage.”

Over the years, Richie has admitted that scheduling conflicts were the important reason the previous Supremes singer never sang the song with him again.

This can be only the second time the 2 would perform the song together in public. Their first and only previous live performance was on the 54th Academy Awards in 1982, where “Endless Love” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was also nominated for a Golden Globe in a similar category and was certified platinum two months after its 1981 release.

During an appearance on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” Richie expressed his deep desire to sing this powerful duet with Ross once more.

A year ago, during a performance in San Francisco on September 8, Richie couldn’t hide his frustration when Ross decided to spend the evening with Beyoncé, who was celebrating her birthday, as a substitute of joining him onstage.

According to Riff Magazine, the “Truly” singer previously suggested that Ross might show up and sing her a part of the duet with him, but that didn’t occur.

Richie turned around and mocked the gang, saying, “(For over) 37 years, Diana said, ‘No (to performing the song).’ What made you think she’d show up tonight? She’s not coming.”

He then joked, “She’s singing ‘Happy Birthday’ by Beyoncé,” before finally admitting, “You pissed me off.”

Despite his nervousness, Richie didn’t let it detract from his performance. He invited women within the audience to sing the diva part, creating an unforgettable moment for fans.

The “American Idol” judge was right. Ross did in reality attend Beyoncé’s Los Angeles stop on her Renaissance World Tour at SoFi Stadium on Monday, September 4, which also happened to be the pop star’s forty second birthday. She also serenaded her successor to the music diva crown.

Four years later, Ross and Richie sang one other hit together, “We Are The World,” as a part of the “USA For Africa” ​​charity event.

“Endless Love” was co-written by Richie and Michael Jackson and produced by the legendary Quincy Jones. The song not only sold over 20 million copies worldwide, but in addition raised over $63 million for humanitarian causes in Africa and the US. It stays certainly one of the best-selling singles of all time.

“Endless Love” dominated the Billboard Hot 100, spending nine consecutive weeks at primary from August 15 to October 10, 1981. It was the second best-selling single of the year, behind only Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes”.

The song has also been copied by Mariah Carey and Luther Vandross, with fans debating which version they liked best. “Lionel Richie and Diana Ross. Pure chemistry!!” one person said.

Other as well as“Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey’s version was better. Luther Vandross has a better voice than Lionel Richie, and Mariah Carey’s vocal range is much better than Diana Ross’.”

Richie would start the song, and Ross would chime in eight bars later. It’s unclear if there was any real tension between the 2, fans were just excited for the Labor Day weekend to start.