Lionel Richie: Watching Nicole struggle was heartbreaking

He told Piers: “They were having difficulties with their relationship”.

The singer cancelled his tour to support the fashion designer through recovery with her mother who he “doesn’t get on well with”.

Nicole had a turbulent few years in the early noughties, which saw her arrested on numerous occasions and checking into rehab in 2003 after being detained for driving with a revoked license and possession of heroin.

Famed for being Paris Hilton’s bestie, Nicole was well known for her issues with drugs.

Piers Morgan’s Life Stories: Lionel Richie is set to air at 9pm on Friday September 4 on ITV.

Lionel said he is happy Nicole has settled down and has a family now.

He knew Nicole’s parents, who were with the Prince tour.

Lionel reveals the truth behind his lyrics and discusses whether he has ever enjoyed fun, erm, “all night long” to his own songs!

Chillingly Nicole did lose two friends to drugs, but her father’s gave warning saved her from meeting the same fate. And all of the sudden the word “sexy” goes out of your life right quick.

“I told her, “When I was growing up I lost three of the hippest friends I knew in life, ‘ he revealed”.

I don’t want you to be in that list of three because after that you’ll be just fine.’ Well, three months later her friend died of an overdose and I went back to her and very quietly, I was very shocked and I said, ‘I am sorry to hear that, that’s one’.

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She’s now married to Joel Madden and together they have two kids.