Lionel Richie has secret hip replacement

Lionel Richie has revealed he's had a secret hip replacement.

The 65-year-old singer rose to fame as the frontman of 1970s funk/soul band the Commodores.

But he admits decades of performing in platform boots did his body a major disservice. Speaking about it for the first time, the singer says he was saddled with arthritis before quietly undergoing surgery years ago.

"I have had a little knee problem, a little hip problem, but not as bad as all that. Although I did have to have a hip operation three years ago and, honestly, I hardly remember which one it is now because technology is so amazing. I put it off for about a year then one day thought, 'Screw it, let it go' and had it done," he told UK newspaper The Mirror.

"So everything about me now is brand new. I'm bionic," he mused. "Well, no, not really, but the hip is better than ever and touring has been great. I don't even know I've got it."

Lionel insists he's taking better care of himself these days. The All Night Long singer looks back and can't believe the stunts he used to pull..

"Since the Commodore days, we don't wear those big boots any more because of the knees and the ankles," he said.

"I think about it now, and think, 'What was I doing?!' Every night, on stage, we'd jump from one riser to the floor. Craziness! What was I thinking?