American Idol judge and pop icon Lionel Richie has joked that he is 'the oldest living fossil' in pop and has to remind his kids that he 'never knew Abraham Lincoln.'
But the energetic superstar says that his physical appearance and mental attitude defy his near 70 years alive thanks to always looking to the future - and working with young people.
The All Night Long hitmaker has revealed he is not even considering retirement in an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV.
Richie says his life's mission has been to use his fame and fortune to help give back to charity and reflecting on turning 70 this June, he said: 'It's okay. I'm the oldest living fossil out here.'
He then turned to his much younger girlfriend and said: 'So sorry, I just wanted to let you know that. And I keep trying to tell my kids every day, ''No, I did not know Abraham Lincoln.'' I do not know why they think I knew Abraham Lincoln.'
Lionel Richie is nowhere near retirement as he prepares to turn 70 in June, he exclusively told DailyMailTV at Saturday's Power of Love Gala for the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas
Shania Twain presented Richie with an award in honor of his impactful musical contributions to the world and his support of Keep Memory Alive, which is the fundraising arm of the Cleveland Clinic
Turning serious about how he retains his energy, passion and youthful appearance, Richie asserted the key was to 'leave home.'
He continued: 'My grandmother lived to be 103. She was in her generation's business, my mom and dad's business, my business with my friends, and was about to go to my grandkids business.
'She just wore out. And what she would do is continue to surround herself with the youngest people she could find and do one thing: listen. And so where I am now is I know everything behind me. I don't know a damn thing in front of me. And so I'm associating myself with that group, get with them, sit down, and find out where we're going?'
Saying retirement is out of the question, he added: 'We're going to be exhausted, but we're not going to be retired.'
The Oscar-winner spoke as he was honored for his charity work at the Las Vegas Power Of Love Gala, which raised crucial funds and awareness for Cleveland Clinic Nevada.
Richie mixed humor with making a serious point about the importance of aiding friends and carers, who look after those suffering from major disease and brain conditions.
He admitted that those blessed with fame should not just focus on the 'Ferraris and houses', but 'look to give back'.
That approach, which has seen him raise tens of millions for good causes during his career, saw him pick up a special honor from close pal Shania Twain Saturday night.
While he has made an estimated fortune of $200million, the singer feels it is vital to give back to those in need.
The All Night Long hitmaker joked that he is the 'oldest living fossil' and says his kids, Nicole, Sofia and Miles Richie, think he personally knew Abraham Lincoln
The American Idol judge, who has made an estimated fortune of $200million, said it has been his life's mission to give back to those in need
Speaking on the violet carpet, he said: 'The gift of talent, the gift of famous, it all boils down to one thing; what are you going to do with it? After the Ferrari, after the cars and the houses and all that stuff, what are you going to do with it? And the answer is you give back.
'We have to empower the people who don't have those voices and in my case, I'm empowering my friends.
'I have friends who are suffering from memory loss and Alzheimer's and they're suffering with… a little bit here. They're struggling and trying to figure out, 'What do I do?' And I love to be the one to say, 'I'm working on it. Let me get you in touch with these people.'
'And it's a great empowering feeling to know that this music has allowed me to help them.'
