Lionel Richie Says Nicole Is "The Perfect Mother"

The singer admits he tried to distance himself from Nicole during her days of hard partying and drug use:

"I tried once [to disassociate myself from Nicole] and it does not work. I go: that's your life and you live it how you want to, I think about it every minute of the day until she gets it right, or until she gets it back on track. It's difficult. As a kid, some things you want to keep secret from your parents. And as a parent, you want to be protective of your kids."

Lionel says that he's "sleeping better" now that Nicole, who is mom to 1-year-old Harlow and has another baby on the way, has traded in her wild ways for motherhood.

"Look at her now," he says. "The perfect mother."

Photo: Flynet Pictures