Lionel Richie has opened up about his daughter Sofia Richie’s engagement to her longtime pal Elliot Grainge, saying her soon-to-be husband was a “nervous wreck” when he asked for the Hello singer’s blessing. As previously revealed, Sofia shared the joyful news that her man had put a ring on her finger in an Instagram post last week, but according to Lionel, Elliot was overcome with nerves when he approached him with the idea of popping the question to his youngest offspring.
In an interview with Access, the 72-year-old explained that he has known Sofia’s beau for well over a decade, so when he was approached to give his blessing, Lionel didn’t even have to hesitate, having also thought highly of the music executive, who’s the founder and CEO of the indie record label 10K Projects.
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“I love Elliot. I’ve known him since he was 12. How about that?” he said. “So it was one of those things where I don’t have to go back and check out the kid. I know who he is.” From the many times Lionel has been around the couple, “they are so happy together,” he added, further expressing that he had nothing to worry about as Sofia “is in good hands.”
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Elliot is the son of Universal Music Group chairman and SEO Sir Lucian Grainge, who resides with Sofia in Los Angeles. In the doting engagement snap posted by Sofia on her Instagram, the 28-year-old can be seen bending down on one knee, wearing a pair of slacks and a dark blue shirt.
On the other hand, Sofia stunned in a printed dress while standing in a designated area with an array of roses and dozens of candles surrounding their special moment. A follow-up photo gave fans a closer look at the stunning emerald-cut diamond ring Elliot presented her with.
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In a previous interview with Grazia magazine, Sofia gushed about her adoration for her dad, who she described as her biggest inspiration in recent years for his down-to-earth personality despite being such a well-known public figure in Hollywood. “I think generally, for a long time, my Dad’s inspired me to be kind,” she shared.
“Because I’ve never seen somebody so famous and have a reason to be such a snob, just be so grateful and nice to every single person he comes across. He’s always like, ‘If you’re nice to one person, you can change their whole day, literally change whatever circumstance they’re in. You just have to smile, be nice, talk and be a human.’ So that inspires me.”
Sofia previously dated Kourtney Kardashian’s ex-boyfriend Scott Disick in 2017, but after three years together, the pair decided to part ways. Their romance apparently didn’t end on good terms either, with sources saying it was Scott who wanted to call it quits.