The Hello hitmaker appeared in the event's coveted annual 'Legends' slot and wowed the crowd with a string of upbeat hits and classic ballads including Dancing on the Ceiling, Easy, Stuck on You, All Night Long, My Destiny, and Three Times a Lady.

The former Commodores star appeared almost overwhelmed by the size of the crowd in front of the main stage for his set, and admitted he was thrilled and delighted to finally perform at the festival.

He said, "It has been a long time coming but finally I made it to Glastonbury. My God!... (People) said when you get there it's gonna be all rain and mud. Well, you got the mud - but I brought some California sunshine with me tonight!"

Later he applauded the audience several times for bringing a singalong atmosphere to his set, and laughed as he saw a sea of fans wearing Lionel Richie face masks and clutching dolls in his likeness.

He concluded his performance with a rousing rendition of peace anthem We Are the World, which he co-wrote with Michael Jackson, and branded the concert the most enjoyable of his life as he left the stage.

Clutching a glass of wine, Richie told the BBC backstage, "What the hell was that...? That was as good as it gets. Even after all the years of me performing, when a crowd takes over like that and shows that much love and they know every song (I love it). And then the dolls! And then my face... When I saw my face in every imaginable form! It was the perfect show, I can't tell you any more. I'm speechless, and for me to be speechless is very hard to do...

"I've been to a lot of shows (and) that was organised chaos at its best. Karaoke at its finest... Today, I was in amazement. That was the best. (It was) outrageous. Absolutely outrageous."

The festival weekend has boasted sets from headliners Florence + the MAChine and Kanye West and Mary J. Blige, Motorhead, Pharrell Williams, Burt Bacharach, The Libertines, Wolf Alice and Paul Weller. The Who are scheduled to close the event on Sunday night.