Lionel Richie Thrilled by Baby News  8/3/07

Soul star Lionel Richie is thrilled by the news his daughter Nicole is pregnant - because now she gets to go through what she put her dad through.

The socialite/actress publicly confirmed her pregnancy during a TV interview earlier this week (beg30Jul07) but admits she told her father weeks ago.

She says, "I said, 'Well, you're going to be a grandfather,' and he told me, 'Now you're going to experience what I have. All the things you put me through, that's what you're going to go through.'"

The Hello singer has stood by his daughter's side through drug addiction, a broken engagement and a handful of wild controversies, which have culminated in a four-day jail sentence for driving the wrong way on a California freeway while under the influence.

Richie admits she lied about her pregnancy at first - because she couldn't believe she was with child.

She adds, "It took me a long time for it to sink in. I didn't even really believe it until I heard the heartbeat."

The baby's father is Good Charlotte rocker Joel Madden.