Lionel Richie has been trying to sing 'Endless Love' with Diana Ross for 37 years

7 June 2018, 15:37 | Updated: 24 June 2018, 01:21

Lionel Richie and Diana Ross's classic 1981 track 'Endless Love' is one of the greatest duets of all time.

However, the duo haven't actually performed it together for yonks.

Lionel Richie has revealed that he has attempted to convince Diana to sing the track with him ever since it was released.

The two icons recorded the song for Motown as the theme for Franco Zeffirelli's film of the same name, and it was a huge hit.

Performing at the Hampton Court Palace Festival in London on Wednesday (June 6), Lionel told the crowd: "One of my favourite songs to sing is 'Endless Love', and for 37 years I have asked Miss Diana Ross to sing it with me, and for 37 years she has said 'no'. But I still ask her every time. Is she here tonight? No.

"So what I want is all the ladies here to be Diana Ross, will you sing it with me?"

The audience gladly took up Lionel's offer, and after he ended the romantic ballad, he thanked his fans by saying: "Who needs Diana Ross? Give yourself a round of applause, we have thousands of singers like Diana Ross in the crowd."

Lionel also paid tribute to his late friend Michael Jackson and other pop legends. He said: "Wow, these gigs are the best. I look out and see someone laughing during the saddest song, and someone crying at the happiest song, and I realise that these songs are memories to people. You have lived these songs.

"When I think about my memories and I think about my fraternity brothers and sorority sisters, I think of all the people who are no longer with us.

"Artists like Maurice White, BB King, Whitney Houston, George Michael, Prince. We will never be able to see these crazy artists perform again but the memories will live on forever. One artist I was lucky enough to write a song with was Michael Jackson, and I want you to sing along and remember him now."

Lionel Richie recently told Smooth Radio that he plans on celebrating 35 years since his iconic album Can't Slow Down by listening to it very loudly!