The All Night Long hitmaker will be feted two nights before the 2016 Grammy Awards on 13 February (16) at the 26th annual MusiCares benefit gala in Los Angeles.

Pharrell Williams, Lady Antebellum and Luke Bryan will perform at the event, where Richie will be saluted for his charity work and "significant creative accomplishments".

The thrilled Hello singer says, "I'm really very proud of this. As far as I'm concerned, this is the highest honour in our music business because it means you have a career. You've survived the journey, if you will. The people who have been there defy categories.

"When you say (previous recipients of the honour) Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan and Paul MCCartney - are you kidding me? When I got in this business I wanted to be like them.

"When you get recognition like this, it's everything. It really is the top of the mountain when it comes down to what your industry gives as recognition for great work, and the opportunity to help raise funds to sustain MusiCares' critical safety net of programs for members of the music community is momentous to me."

Richie is currently enjoying somewhat of a career resurgence following a show-stopping set at this summer's (Jun15) Glastonbury festival in England, which drew over 100,000 fans to his show.