Luke Bryan and Lady Antebellum to Help Honor Lionel Richie, 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year

Luke Bryan and Lady Antebellum are on tap to help honor Lionel Richie, who has been named the 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year.

Richie will receive the award at the 26th annual MusiCares benefit gala, scheduled to take place on Feb. 13, 2016. Proceeds from the event, which includes a concert, dinner and silent auction, will directly support the the MusiCares organization, which provides services for musicians in times of need. Bryan and Lady A will participate in the tribute concert, as will Pharrell Williams; more performers will be announced soon.

"Lionel's artistry is a genuine blend of emotional connection and poignant lyricism, and we look forward to a truly magical evening that will highlight his astonishing and inspiring body of work," says Bill Silva, chair of the MusiCares Foundation Board.

Richie is receiving the award for his creative achievements, as well as for his contributions to causes related to AIDS, human rights, famine, poverty, human trafficking and women's issues.

"I'm really very proud of this," Richie says. "As far as I'm concerned, this is the highest honor in our music business, because it means you have a career. You've survived the journey, if you will.

"The people who have been there defy categories. When you say Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney — are you kidding me? When I got in this business, I wanted to be like them," Richie continues. "When you get recognition like this, it's everything. It really is the top of the mountain when it comes down to what your industry gives as recognition for great work, and the opportunity to help raise funds to sustain MusiCares' critical safety net of programs for members of the music community is momentous to me."

Dylan received the award in 2015 and caused a bit of controversy when, during his acceptance speech, he called out Merle Haggard and Tom T. Hall. Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Natalie Maines and more have also been involved in past MusiCares tributes, appearing on a MusiCares tribute album to Bruce Springsteen.

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