“American Idol” judge Lionel Richie is safe and sound after a burglar broke into his Beverly Hills home in the early hours of Friday morning (August 22, 2025).
The news was first reported to TMZ by local authorities who claimed that they received an emergency call about the attempted burglary just after midnight in the 90210 area, where Richie’s residence is located.
Richie Latest A-Lister Hit with Summer String of LA Break-Ins
The Beverly Hills Police Department similarly reported that they arrested the suspected burglar, but that formal charges have not yet been filed. The authorities similarly revealed that Richie was home at the time of the break-in, adding that the musician’s state-of-the-art security system deterred the alleged burglar before he had a chance to steal any of the Grammy-winner’s belongings.
While Richie has yet to make a public statement in regards to the scary event, he is the latest in a long list of A-listers who have been the target of similar burglary attempts this summer, including stars like Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Teddi Mellencamp, LA Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Elizabeth Chambers, Ashlee Simpson and Evan Ross.
Most notably, Oscar-winning actor Brad Pitt’s Los Angeles estate faced an unfortunate break-in late June, with four teenagers “ransacking” the celebrity’s three-bedroom home that sits just outside of Griffith Park.
Thankfully, Pitt was off promoting his recent film “F1” at the time of the break-in. Regardless, the actor has since put the $5.5 million mansion, known at The Steel House, up for sale.
The Los Feliz residence was previously owned by philanthropist Aileen Getty, who purchased the property from Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine in 2019 before selling the midcentury modern abode to Pitt in 2023. In return, Getty purchased Pitt’s previous estate in the Hollywood Hills, where he lived with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie and their children until the couple divorced in 2016.
Is Lionel Richie Returning to ‘American Idol’ Next Year?
In spite of the recent events, all of the stars, including Lionel Richie are safe and sound, with Richie himself still gearing up to return to the “American Idol” judging panel for the singing competition’s 24th season next year.
GettyPresently, it appears that Richie will return to the series alongside Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan in 2026, with Ryan Seacrest similarly set to reprise his role as the longtime host on “American Idol.”
An exact release date for “American Idol” Season 24 has yet to be determined by ABC, though the show will likely retain its typical Sunday night slot on the network, with episodes premiering at 8:00pm ET.
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Lionel Richie Safe After Attempted Burglary at Beverly Hills Home