Lionel Richie reveals Michael Jackson’s ‘Smelly’ nickname came from hygiene struggles

Lionel Richie is sharing surprising details about his longtime friend Michael Jackson in his new memoir Truly, released this week.

According to Richie, the late “King of Pop” carried an unusual nickname behind the scenes—“Smelly”—which Quincy Jones gave him because of his hygiene habits.

Richie explained that Jackson often went several days without changing or washing his clothes, something the singer himself admitted with laughter. “He realized he was oblivious to the fact that he hadn’t changed or washed his clothes for a couple of days or so,” Richie wrote.

The American Idol judge noted it wasn’t entirely Jackson’s fault. Constantly touring worldwide, the superstar struggled to access dry cleaning without risking his clothes being stolen as souvenirs. Shopping in department stores was also nearly impossible due to his immense fame. As a result, Jackson developed a habit of wearing the same pants until they were worn out.

Richie also recalled what Jackson looked like during visits, often arriving in jeans that were either too small, too big, or noticeably unwashed. On one occasion, Richie even sneaked Jackson into his home so he could shower for the first time in days, providing him with clean jeans and underwear.

Despite these quirks, Richie emphasized that Jackson’s hygiene struggles never overshadowed his talent or legendary career. The anecdotes in Truly highlight the human side of one of music’s biggest icons, reminding fans that even the world’s most celebrated stars had their eccentricities.