Lionel Richie

"It's gonna be something surprising," he says.

Well, country fans. There's one thing for sure. When you think of hot country properties, you probably don't add the name Lionel Richie to the list. He's a pop icon and hasn't done too much country of late.  Except, that is, for his highly regarded new CD called Tuskegee.

We told you earlier about this project from Mr. Richie. It's a collection of duets with a definite country flavor and it could be one of his biggest albums in recent years.