Lionel Richie opens Hello Park in Tuskegee with American Idol judges Katy Perry & Luke Bryan

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Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie planting trees with Katy Perry and Luke Bryan at Tuskegee’s Hello Park (Joe Turnham)

Music icon Lionel Richie opened Hello Park this week in his hometown of Tuskegee with fellow American Idol judges Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.

As reported in June 2023 by The Bama Buzz, Richie nominated the greenspace to become a public park as part of the Lowe’s Hometowns community impact program. 

Launched in 2022, Lowe’s Hometowns has committed $100 million to revitalize and rebuild community spaces nationwide over the course of five years.

Richie and American Idol in Tuskegee

Hello Park Tuskegee
Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan at Hello Park dedication in Tuskegee (Joe Turnham)

It was an eventful day for Richie on Monday, October 2nd. Tuskegee Mayor Lawrence F. Haygood Jr.presented Richie with the key to the city and proclaimed it Lionel Richie Day.

With help from his fellow American Idol judges, Richie, Perry and Bryan dedicated Hello Park, with a ribbon cutting and tree planting. The new park is located near Tuskegee University.

Next up? Tuskegee featured on National TV

Footage from the Tuskegee visit will likely air nationally on American Idol in the spring of 2024. Richie became a judge on the show in 2018. The show over the years has featured the hometowns of judges and contestants.

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Pat Byington
Pat Byington
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