Lionel Richie was honored recently by the cable channel TV Land. Their annual Icon awards salute entertainers with longevity in the industry. Richie, whose daughter is reformed badgirl socialite and new mom Nicole Richie, made a little joke about what he says is the toughest job in the world: being a dad. Specifically, Nicole’s dad.

Grammy winner Lionel Richie was honored this weekend with an Icon trophy at the TV Land Awards, while accepting his award, the Oscar winner joked to the crowd about being Nicole Richie’s father.

“Forget about surviving 40 years in the music business. Just surviving 27 years of Nicole Richie has been a struggle and a half, I want to tell you. I stand here as a survivor, I want you to know, for all parents out there.”

Richie also added that since Nicole became a mommy she has become a different person,

“She went from Dad, I don’t care. Whatever you say, to ‘wash your hands, dad.’”

[From The Paparazzis]

I’m not a fan of Lionel’s music post-Commodores, but after seeing him with Nicole on “Oprah” a few years back, I like their relationship a lot. Nicole acknowledges that she was a wild-child hellian, and Lionel admits that he wasn’t always there for his daughter due to his career. They seem very close these days, and in every photo I’ve seen of Lionel with his new granddaughter he seems to be bursting with pride. It’s great that they can laugh about those tough times now.

Nicole, Lionel and Sophia Richie are shown at the ASCAP awards on 4/9/08, thanks to WENN.

Nicole Richie, Joel Madden and their baby Harlow, who will be four months old in a few days, appear in a new photo spread in Harper’s Bazaar. It features Joel and Nicole in couture looking privileged along with Harlow in her own cute clothing. Nicole’s dad pop singer Lionel Richie also appears, looking very much the proud Grandfather. The shoot reminds me of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony’s first baby spread in People with more focus on the newborn and less haughty expressions.

Extra TV has details of the accompanying interview with Nicole, and she’s outspoken about her love for her daughter and the way Harlow has changed her life and her circle of friends. She says that Joel is very helpful with the baby and changes more diapers than she does:

Richie tells “Extra” that she is the first in her circle of friends to have a baby. She elaborated, “I feel like my group of five to ten friends, they really love her, like she’s theirs… my friends never go outside for smoke breaks anymore, they don’t curse, they are definitely more demure. It’s actually been really interesting.”

As for how new dad and fiancé Joel Madden handles diaper duty, Richie admitted, “Joel actually changes more diapers than I do… It’s his time with her. He sings to her… he laughs with her, plays with her. It’s amazing.” Richie revealed that her father, Lionel, hasn’t offered her any parenting advice, but that “he comes from a father standpoint. He gives Joel a lot of advice.”

[From ExtraTV.com]

Nicole also says that she finds the paparazzi scary and doesn’t want that kind of circus around her daughter. She calls herself “the luckiest girl alive” and says she has “nothing to complain about.”

Nicole and Joel got some slight heat for making appearances at events and parties in the month after their daughter’s birth. That was during the Grammy events, though, and it was important that Joel attend some parties for his job. They seemed to have reigned it in though, and although they still go out it’s not like they’re partying it up every weekend. We reported a story from Star earlier in the week that speculated that “Nicole is torn between being a mommy and being a party girl” and wanted some freedom but didn’t want to leave her baby.

Nicole certainly seems like a great mom. Compare her actions to the way that Jennifer Lopez is behaving - talking about competing in a triathalon to make her babies proud and heading out to every event to show the world how well her fitness program is working.

Doesn’t Harlow look like she has so much personality already? I love her expressions, she’s a little weisenheimer you can tell.

These photos are from Harper’s Bazaar’s website, where there are many more.

A colleague of my husband’s had his first child last week, and hubs reported the man had “That goofy new dad face” on. Joel Madden just lost 50% of his street cred with this gushing post on his website. It’s absolutely adorable!

Well I am finally home with my beautiful girlfriend and our brand new little daughter. Harlow Winter Kate Madden was born on January 11th 2008 at 3:13pm. She weighed in at 6 pounds and 7 ounces. She is 19 inches long and growing everyday already! She really is a wonderful addition to the GC/DCMA/DEADEXEC family.We are so blessed to have this beautiful little baby in our lives.

I want to thank everyone for all the love and kind words they’ve sentour way. We apologize we werent accepting and gifts/cards/calls at the hospital, but if you’d like to send something, we’d rather you make a donation to the Richie-Madden Foundation, which we started in Harlow Winter’s honor.

She looks so much like her mom its crazy! She eats like a little maniac and shes really sweet. She barely ever cries, even when daddy is changing her diaper, and believe me i suck when it comes to diapers, but I’m learning! I cant wait to show off some pictures, until then, THANKS!! and GOD BLESS…

Joel

It’s clear to me that Joel has discovered already one of the special secrets of daddy-hood - pretend incompetence to get out of changing nappies. I’m assuming it’s not going to take long for Nicole to learn the secret of the mommy-hood: It doesn’t matter how badly it’s done, the man must help!

Another gushing grandfather has also, er, gushed? Lionel Richie has releasea this statement about his granddaughter.

While it may take me a moment to adjust to being called granddad, I am extremely happy and proud of Nicole and Joel.

Lionel added that,

Harlow Winter Kate Madden, the newest and most beautiful addition to the Richie clan, is a lucky little girl. She was surrounded by a great deal of love at that hospital as she entered the world. Nicole and Joel are going to be wonderful parents.

Celebrity Baby Blog

Aww, it gives me the warm and fuzzies.

A friend of Nicole’s says that she won’t be rushing to lose her pregnancy pounds, and that she “quite likes those extra curves.” I think that it’s great she won’t be bowing to pressure to lose the weight, although there almost seems pressure on mums to embrace their weight gain and those extra pounds are a badge of honour. I’m sure she looks great. Actually she probably looks sleep deprived, but that’s nothing a little make up and six weeks sleep can’t fix.

Given all the gushing that’s going about this baby, one would have thought a few pictures have been taken by the proud family? None have surfaced yet - who got the exclusive deal? People? In Touch? Let’s see how much this baby is worth!

Picture note by Celebitchy: Nicole Richie and Joel Madden are shown at the Launch of the Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation at Los Angeles Free Clinic in Hollywood on 12/3/07, thanks to WENN.

Nicole Richie seems to have postponed her planned wedding to boyfriend Joel Madden until after their baby is born in January. There were reports that she was going to marry Joel sometime this month, but it seems like they are going to wait as we haven’t heard much more about it.

This weeks’ National Enquirer claims that Nicole’s dad, Lionel Richie, told her to hold off getting married until after she had the baby. He’s also said to have promised to foot the entire bill:

[Nicole Richie’s dad] Lionel Richie keeps advising his fragile princess to postpone the wedding, avoid all the nuptual frenzy and just chill! Said a family insider: “Lionel doesn’t think Nicole can handle the stress, and told her: ‘Baby, in life it’s first things first!’” Knowing Nicole’s vulnerable and worried about delivering a healthy baby, Lionel’s assured her that as Father of The Bride, he’ll spend big bucks for a spectacular wedding whenever she wants it - but right now, he wants her to focus solely on the birth.

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, Mike Walker’s column, November 12, 2007]

Nicole may be waiting to get married on the advice of her family, but she’s still preparing for the ceremony in little ways. Star Magazine reports that Nicole purchased costumes for her little dogs including a tuxedo for her Shih tzu, Honeychild, and a bridesmaid dress for Foxxy Cleopatra, her Pomeranian. That’s kind of cheesy, but it could also be cute:

[Nicole Richie] recently bought a canine tuxedo for her mutt, Honeychild, and a bridesmaid dress for her Pomeranian, Foxxy Cleopatra, from tony Santa Monica pet store The Wagging Tail. She wants the pooches to walk down the aisle with her when she weds her baby daddy.

[From Star Magazine, print edition, November 12, 2007]

Maybe the outfits were for Halloween, but since they could also serve as doggie wedding attire, it does sound like she’s planning for her pets to walk down the aisle with her. At least she has a soft spot for her animals considering how nasty and cold she’s rumored to be. Hopefully she’ll feel that way about her baby, too

Nicole Richie is shown in the header image on 10/30/07 shopping. Thanks to Splash News for this picture. She is seen with Honeychild and Foxxy Cleopatra in images found at Celebrity Dog Blog.

Lionel Richie performed at the Essence Festival in New Orleans this past weekend. After his show, he talked about his daughter Nicole’s recent behavior, ranging from drinking and driving, drug addiction, and possibly (but who the heck knows) being pregnant with boyfriend Joel Madden’s baby. Here’s a recap of some of Nicole’s legal issues:

In February 2003, Richie was arrested in Malibu, California and charged with possession of heroin. She was also driving with a suspended driver’s license. On December 11, 2006, Richie was arrested by the California Highway Patrol after she failed a field sobriety test and was charged with driving under the influence on California State Route 134 in the Burbank/Glendale, California area. Several motorists had reported a black Mercedes-Benz G-Class entering the freeway on the exit ramp and traveling in the wrong direction. She admitted to using marijuana and Vicodin before the incident.

[From Wikipedia]

As a result of her latest run-in with the police, Nicole is scheduled to go on trial on July 10. She pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. She likely pleaded not guilty due to her previous arrests, and thought it better to take her chances than go to jail for sure. Theoretically Nicole could get more time than Paris did, and could be sentenced to 90 days to a year in jail.

I am continuously amazed at what an enabler Lionel Richie is. The first time or two I saw him interviewed regarding Nicole, I thought, “Wow, she’s lucky to have such a supportive parent.” But then she just kept messing up, and he kept making excuses, and after a bit you realize he’s a big part of the problem. In past interviews Nicole has talked about Lionel not allowing her to be around her younger siblings due to her erratic behavior, fearing for their safety. He seems to think that just because she’s not quite as messed up as she used to be, she’s okay. When asked about Nicole’s recent trials, Lionel said:

“’She keeps apologizing to me. I told her, You’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing to your father at this age.’”

[From Newsday]

Wha… what? You’re supposed to have a heroin addiction? Eating disorder? Drive under the influence? I think Lionel really missed the memo. You’re supposed to stress out your parents. You’re supposed to stay out late, not call enough, date a few guys that aren’t good enough for you, and make them worry in that way. You’re not supposed to go to jail. He really needs to get his act together just as much as she does. She needs to surround herself with people that are good for her, not people that tell her it’s okay to do seriously unhealthy things.