Released on , as the lead single for Tuskegee , the song traded the lush 1981 orchestral arrangement for a "country-pop" polish produced by Nathan Chapman and Richie himself.
A Match Made in the Bahamas: Lionel Richie and Shania Twain Revisit "Endless Love" lionel_richie_endless_love_ft_shania_twain
The road to this duet wasn't exactly a straight line. Recorded in 2011, the process was captured in the emotional final episode of Shania’s reality docuseries, Why Not? with Shania Twain . Released on , as the lead single for
When Lionel Richie decided to return to his Alabama roots for his 2012 country-inspired album, , he didn't just bring along a banjo and some steel guitar—he brought some of the biggest names in music to reimagine his legendary catalog. Perhaps the most daunting task of all was finding someone to step into the shoes of Diana Ross for a remake of the "greatest song duet of all time": "Endless Love" . Enter the Queen of Country Pop, Shania Twain . The Story Behind the Collaboration with Shania Twain
Despite their superstar status, both artists admitted to being "scared to death" to touch such a sacred classic. Lionel later revealed that getting Shania into the studio required some serious persuasion. He originally wanted to record in Nashville, Miami, or Los Angeles, but Shania—seeking a more private and comfortable setting—convinced him to meet her in . A New Sound for a Timeless Ballad