Richard Marxis an ace musician, but he's also a champion conversationalist.
The singer/songwriter/producer who has commandeered the charts for decades with more than 30 Top 40 pop and adult contemporary hits can easily zigzag topics, whether music past and current, shaking a martini, or applying moisturizer.
Marxtalked to USA TODAY recentlyabout his new album,"After Hours,"which embraces the Great American Songbook, and podcast/YouTube series"Stories to Tell."But he also took time to chat about some of his favorite music; how, at 62, he still looks like the guy who dropped "Don't Mean Nothing" in 1987; and yes, his spectacular hair.
Richard Marx is an Elvis devotee
Marx was about 8 years old when he purchased his first album, Elvis Presley's"'68 Comeback Special,"spending $8.99 of his allowance.
"I was the Elvis freak (in the house). My dad was never an Elvis fan. He was a jazz musician; he looked down on Elvis but came to appreciate his charisma and performance. My mom loved Elvis but not like I did," Marx says. "The first time I saw him on TV, I was captivated like everyone else."
Richard Marx doesn't listen to much old music – with one exception
Marx says he's "constantly" listening to new music, with his favorite of the past few years the Canadian electronic duoBob Moses."I'm obsessed with them," he says.
But there is one classic embedded in Marx's musical soul:Earth, Wind & Fire's1979 gem,"I Am,"which includes the evergreens "Boogie Wonderland" and "After the Love Has Gone."
"It's my desert island disc," he says. "I've written with Philip Bailey, but the heart of that group was (the late) Maurice White. He was a hero of mine. His voice – he's one of the most underrated singers ever."
Richard Marx has worked with dozens of artists, but one stands out for a surprising reason
"I'm going to answer this differently than I thought I would," Marx says when asked who his favorite collaborator has been during his lengthy career. "I've written many songs withKeith Urban,including three of his hits, and it's never a particularly enjoyable experience," he says, continuing, "It's laborious. The music usually comes fast to us and we riff off each other, but when it comes to lyrics, it's not fun. We've had some contentious moments working together, but … I love what I've done with Keith."
Marx cites Urban's 2011 anthem"Long Hot Summer"as one of his favorites, which the pair wrote in three writing sessions in three different cities.
"My relationship with Keith is interesting in that we butt heads, but I love him and at the end of the day, what we have written together I really hold dear."
Richard Marx's keys to health – no sugar and plenty of sun
The lithe Marx has been a vegetarian – sometimes vegan – most of his life, as well as someone committed to fitness. But when he turned 60 two years ago, he made a major change to his diet and cut out all added sugar.
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After a few months of the new regimen he had some medical tests and, "My doctor went, 'Dude! You're 60 and you have no inflammation in your body.' And Idrink!," he says with a laugh.
Marx, who lives in Hidden Hills, California with wifeDaisy Fuentes, is also a fan of the sun.
"I'll sit in the sun for 20 minutes without any sunscreen, get my vitamin D. The sun is not our enemy," he says.
He's tried meditation, but "I always fall asleep … my meditation is to take an hourlong hike."
Age has also injected Marx with a modified philosophical outlook on life.
"It can be such a bummer, but I'm starting to be conscious of how much time I have left. I don't want to waste time. I want to get experiences. I have three sons I'm really close to, I'm madly in love – Daisy and I have so much fun together. We have a lot of stuff we have to do, but we just need to have fun," he says.
Yes, Richard Marx knows he has great hair
Marx's coif,legendary in the '80s and '90sand just as lush today, isn't the product of genetics, but, he says, luck.
"I have a half-brother who is bald, so I'm so lucky I have all this hair. God knows I've tortured with product and hair straightener and it's still like, 'Love ya! Still here!'"
The veteran British glam rockers will be asking Las Vegas, "Do you wanna get rocked?" at their new dozen-concert residency at Caesars Palace. Singer Joe Elliott told USA TODAY the band wants to keep some "mystique" about show plans but, "Vegas will have a new concept."Dates: Feb. 3 - Feb. 28 (Las Vegas). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The Americana sweetheart is supporting her eighth studio album – and first solo project in four years – "Returning to Myself," released in October. She'll be joined by The Head and the Heart.Dates: Feb. 10 (Philadelphia) – March 6 (San Francisco). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The hip-hop maven embarks on her Little Miss Drama Tour – its name drawn from her second studio album that released in September – for more than 30 dates. It's her first tour in six years and her first arena outing.Dates: Feb. 11 (Palm Desert, California) – April 18 (Atlanta). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The Mayhem Ball was unequivocally the most spectacular road show of 2025. The indefatigable Gaga is back for a second North American leg that will hit some new cities (Atlanta, Boston, Washington DC) and return her captivating pop-opera to others (Los Angeles, New York) because of insatiable demand.Dates: Feb. 14 (Glendale, Arizona) – April 13 (New York). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Following the major success of his fourth studio album, "Wishbone," which bore the dreamy "This Song" and "Vodka Cranberry," the sensitive singer-songwriter will circle North American arenas with Esha Tewari before heading to Europe and Australia.Dates: Feb. 19 (Minneapolis) – March 20 (Los Angeles). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Following the recent release of his sixth album, "With Heaven on Top," the alt-country singer-songwriter will launch another slate of stadium shows to promote the 25-song effort. He's also tapped a heady supporting cast: Kings of Leon and Ben Howard, Alabama Shakes and Caamp.Dates: March 7 (St. Louis) - Oct. 10 (Auburn, Alabama). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Country megastar Combs has produced a stadium-sized career, and he'll fill those venues on his My Kinda Saturday Night Tour, which kicks off the day after his new album, "The Way I Am," arrives. Combs tapped guest performers – Dierks Bentley, The Script, Thomas Rhett, Thelma & James, among others – for various dates.Dates: March 21 (Las Vegas) – June 6 (Toronto). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The forthright British songbird hasn't toured North America since 2018, and is only doing nine concerts before heading back to the U.K. this summer. But she'll make them memorable. Her Lily Allen Performs West End Girl will find her performing her intense new album, "West End Girl," start to finish.Dates: April 3 (Chicago) – April 28 (San Francisco). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Florence Welch – an ever-captivating and a dazzling stage presence – will lead her band through a romp inspired by her sixth album, "Everybody Scream," released on Halloween. She'll be joined by Rachel Chinouriri, Sofia Isella and other artists on varying dates.Dates: April 8 (Minneapolis) – May 20 (Los Angeles). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
It's been four years since Lovato's last major outing and she's primed to bring her nearly two decades (!) of hits to 23 cities. Touring behind last year's "It's Not That Deep," which marked her return to pop, Lovato will welcome ADÉLA as her special guest.Dates: April 8 (Charlotte) – May 25 (Houston). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
While he hasn't headlined a tour since 2017, the song-and-dance man has hardly been idle. He's helmed a popular Vegas residency and club opening as well as moonlighting with Silk Sonic and appearing on hits with Lady Gaga and Rosé. His grand return for The Romantic Tour – his fourth album, "The Romantic," – will play nearly 70 stadium shows across North America and Europe and was met with instant sellouts. Dates: April 10 (Las Vegas) – Oct. 17 (Vancouver). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Cue the eardrum-shattering screams because the K-pop conquerors are back. A 70-plus date world tour featuring an in-the-round stage should sate the BTS Army, especially since it's the group's first headline tour since 2022. A new record, "Arirang," is also expected this year.Dates: April 25 (Tampa) - Sept. 6 (Los Angeles). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The effervescent ska-punk of the "Tragic Kingdom" quartet will meld with the remarkable technology at Sphere Las Vegas for what is sure to be a colorful show. Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont and Adrian Young have 18 performances set at the venue to host their cache of '90s and '00s smashes. Dates: May 6 - June 13 (Las Vegas). More here. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The voice behind the ubiquitous "Ordinary" released his full-length debut album, "You'll Be Alright, Kid," in July (with Jelly Roll and Rosé popping on a couple of songs). He'll parlay his burgeoning success on his Little Orphan Alex Live tour with a run of 28 North American amphitheaters and arenas.Dates: May 25 (Nashville) - July 28 (Cheyenne, Wyoming). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The Australian pop-rockers show their sense of humor on new album "Everyone's a Star!" with the single "Boyband." They'll take their polished riffs to Europe in the early part of the year before hitting more than three dozen arenas and amphitheaters in North America.Dates: May 29 (Uncasville, Connecticut) - Aug. 28 (Mountain View, California). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The global superstar broke through in a major way with "LUX," her fourth full-length album released in November featuring the London Symphony Orchestra, Björk, Carminho and Estrella Morente, among others. Her LUX Tour 2026 will play 42 arena shows in 17 countries. Dates: June 4 (Miami) - July 3 (San Diego). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
It's a long way from "Wicked" as Grande embarks on her first tour in six years. The album she's ostensibly supporting, "Eternal Sunshine," arrived in March 2024, but Grande spent the last couple of years exploring her acting interests and hinted that she will return to that path following this excursion.Dates: June 6 (Oakland, California) – Aug. 6 (Chicago). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Even Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson were surprised at the demand that met the first seven dates they announced on their Fifty Something tour, their first since 2015. Modern Drummer Hall of Famer Neil Peart died in 2020, but the Canadian rockers will be joined by Anika Nilles behind the kit.Dates: June 7 (Los Angeles) – Dec. 17 (Vancouver). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Following a spate of shows in Australia and South America, the affable Sheeran will land in North America for a stadium run. Sheeran is rocking a pink-hued motif for the tour in support of his eighth studio album, "Play," which spawned the hits "Azizam," "Sapphire" and "Camera."Dates: June 13 (Glendale, Arizona) – Nov. 7 (Tampa). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Jon Bon Jovi was extremely candid in the band's fulfilling Hulu documentary, "Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story," about the devastating vocal cord issues that robbed him of his singing voice. But following surgery and intensive rehab, one of rock's greatest frontmen and the rest of his Jersey boys are ready to rock again with a nine-show residency at Madison Square Garden before heading to Ireland and the U.K. for another handful of shows.Dates: July 7-26 (New York). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
It's been quite the whirlwind year for the young London native, whose second album, "The Art of Loving," earned her a best new artist Grammy nomination and commandeered radio with the soulful pop of "Man I Need" and "Nice to Each Other." Her The Art of Loving Live tour is her most ambitious as she plays all arenas for the first time.Dates: July 10 (San Francisco) – Aug. 29 (Austin, Texas). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Two decades after steamrolling through venues with their Carnival of Sins tour, Motley Crue is resurrecting the explosive production for its 20th anniversary as well as the 45th anniversary of the band. The Return of the Carnival of Sins – featuring updated staging and set lists – will hit 33 cities with Tesla and Extreme in tow.Dates: July 17 (Burgettstown, Pennsylvania) – Sept. 26 (Ridgefield, Washington). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The band – Axl Rose, Duff McKagan, Slash, Dizzy Reed, Richard Fortus, Isaac Carpenter and Melissa Reese – have returned to their road warrior ways following a 2025 world tour and a 2026 that finds them roaring through South America and Europe before journeying to North America. Among GNR's dates is a Sept. 5 return to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, their first time playing the stadium in more than 30 years. Dates: July 24 (Raleigh, North Carolina) – Aug. 22 (Las Vegas). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Their last stadium tour, the 2023-24 Everything or Nothing at All run, sold out stadiums worldwide. The Foos – Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, Rami Jaffee and Ilan Rubin – will go another round in 12 (for now, they say) North American cities this summer. Queens of the Stone Age will open all dates except Sept. 12 in Fargo, North Dakota.Dates: Aug. 4 (Toronto) – Sept. 26 (Las Vegas). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The celebration continues for the emo-punk-rockers, who last year kickstarted an anniversary tour to revisit their standout 2006 rock opera, "The Black Parade." Skits and costumes are prevalent as the band – Gerard Way, Ray Toro, Mikey Way and Frank Iero – tears through their landmark album in full before a second set of ragers.Dates: Aug. 9 (New York) – Oct. 31 (Hollywood, California). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Who is on tour in 2026? Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, BTS, Rush and more
The veteran British glam rockers will be asking Las Vegas, "Do you wanna get rocked?" at their new dozen-concert residency at Caesars Palace. Singer Joe Elliotttold USA TODAYthe band wants to keep some "mystique" about show plans but, "Vegas will have a new concept."Dates:Feb. 3 - Feb. 28 (Las Vegas).More here.
Richard Marx isn't a Botox guy – for now
Given Marx's proclivity for the sun, he knows he has to stay moisturized to combat the effect of the rays. His wife is always ready to give an assist.
"Daisy will be standing next to me in the bathroom and going, 'Oh my God, isthathow you put lotion on your face?' She always has some retinol and all that stuff and I'm becoming a bit more diligent about my skin," he says.
As for Botox, Marx isn't against the procedure, but "never say never. I do know that my vanity will probably get the best of me. That's the reason my hair isn't white. I let my hair go gray a little during the pandemic and my oldest son (Brandon) went, 'Dad, youneedto color your hair because you look 10 years older!'"
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Richard Marx loves Elvis, sunshine and sometimes Keith Urban
