Richard Marx has no shortage of legendary Hollywood stories, but one of his favorites involves none other than Barbra Streisand—and her unforgettable reason for turning down what became his biggest hit.

The singer-songwriter, 61, who is joining Season 14 of The Voice Australia as a coach, shared the hilarious backstory behind Right Here Waiting during an exclusive DailyMail.com interview discussing his new podcast and YouTube series Stories to Tell with Richard Marx. 

Marx recalled that after his 1987 self-тιтled debut album went triple platinum—thanks in part to his hit Don’t Mean Nothing—he was approached by Streisand, now 82, who asked him to write a song for her.

At the time, he had been working on Right Here Waiting but wasn’t convinced it fit his own album.

‘One of my favorite stories is offering my song Right Here Waiting to Barbra Streisand because I didn’t wanna record it,’ he told DailyMail.com. ‘I felt like it didn’t fit the album I was making. It felt a little too slow and too personal. And I thought, “Oh, this will be a good song for somebody else.”‘

Since Streisand had reached out, he figured she’d be the perfect fit—until she called him back with some brutally honest feedback.

Richard Marx shared the hilarious backstory behind Barbra Steisand’s rejection of Right Here Waiting, as well as a surprising revelation from Lionel Richie about one of his most iconic songs, during an exclusive DailyMail.com interview; (seen in 2022)

Marx recalled that after his 1987 self-тιтled debut album went triple platinum—thanks in part to his hit Don’t Mean Nothing—he was approached by Streisand, now 82, who asked him to write a song for her; (Streisand in 1988)

‘And she called me and I still have the message,’ Marx said. ‘She said, “I love the music, but you need to rewrite the lyrics…. ’cause I’m not gonna be right here waiting for anybody.”‘

But Marx took the hilarious rejection in stride and turned the ballad into his own masterpiece.

‘We’re friends to this day,’ he added. ‘So I tease her all the time and I go, “I can’t thank you enough because you rejecting that song made it my biggest hit I’ve ever had.”‘

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‘It’s sort of my signature song.’

Streisand’s loss was Marx’s gain—when he released Right Here Waiting in 1989, it soared to No. 1 on the Billboard H๏τ 100 and became one of his most defining tracks.

Although Streisand pᴀssed on that song, she and Marx later collaborated on If You Ever Leave Me, a duet with Vince Gill featured on her 1999 album A Love Like Ours.

Marx has previously revealed that Right Here Waiting was written as a love letter to actress Cynthia Rhodes, whom he later married. 

At the time, Rhodes was filming a movie in South Africa, and the two had been apart for months.

At the time, Marx had been working on Right Here Waiting but wasn’t convinced it fit his own album, so he figured she’d be the perfect fit—until she called him back with some brutally honest feedback; (Streisand with Michael Jackson in 1986)

‘And she called me and I still have the message. She said, “I love the music, but you need to rewrite the lyrics…. ’cause I’m not gonna be right here waiting for anybody.”‘ …but Marx took the hilarious rejection in stride and turned the ballad into his own masterpiece, adding, We’re friends to this day’; (seen in 2017)

Marx has previously revealed that Right Here Waiting was written as a love letter to actress Cynthia Rhodes, whom he later married; (seen in 1988)

Rhodes, best known for her roles in Flashdance, Staying Alive, Runaway, and Dirty Dancing, married Marx in 1989; (Cynthia Rhodes (R) seen with Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing)

Rhodes, best known for her roles in Flashdance, Staying Alive, Runaway, and Dirty Dancing, married Marx in 1989. 

They divorced in 2014 after 25 years together. A year later, Marx married Daisy Fuentes. 

During his candid DailyMail.com chat, Marx also shared another unforgettable anecdote—this time about Lionel, who played a pivotal role in launching his career.

Marx revealed that as a teenager, he had been desperately trying to break into the music industry, sending cᴀssette tapes of his songs to anyone who would listen. 

One of those tapes made its way to Richie, who did something unexpected—he called Marx’s parents’ house.

‘I was 18, living at home, graduating from high school, and I had written a handful of songs,’ Marx recalled. 

‘For a year, a year and a half, these songs floated around and nobody really paid much attention to them. And somehow, they got to Lionel.’

To his shock, Richie personally reached out.

Marx created Stories to Tell with Richard Marx, a ‘proper show’ that has already found its groove with fans and guests alike

Marx revealed that as a teenager, he had been desperately trying to break into the music industry, sending cᴀssette tapes of his songs to anyone who would listen and one of those tapes made its way to Richie, who did something unexpected—he called Marx’s parents’ house

True to his word, Richie later brought Marx to Los Angeles and hired him as a backing vocalist and Marx ended up singing on multiple tracks, including the smash hit All Night Long; (seen in 2025)

Marx and Daisy Fuentes married on December 23, 2015l (seen in 2021)

‘He actually called my parents’ house to talk to me and encourage me,’ Marx said.

True to his word, Richie later brought Marx to Los Angeles and hired him as a backing vocalist. Marx ended up singing on multiple tracks, including the smash hit All Night Long.

But one moment in the recording studio left Marx stunned.

‘We were doing All Night Long, and aside from the “All night!” part, which I sing on all the choruses, there’s this whole Swahili section,’ Marx explained.

Richie was meticulous about the pronunciation, making sure they got every syllable just right. But after hours of perfecting it, Marx had a question.

‘I remember saying to him, “So what does that Swahili translate into?” And he looked at me and goes, “Oh, it’s just gibberish. I made it up.”‘ 

And with such hilarious anecdotes by his side, Marx, who has been nominated for five Grammys, went on to win the prestigious Song of the Year award in 2003 for Dance with My Father, performed by Luther Vandross.

Marx continues to reflect on the moments—and the icons—that helped shape his career—and no doubt, there’s more fun to come, as fans can check out his new  series Stories to Tell with Richard Marx. 

The ‘casual, cocktail/mocktail-infused conversations’ feature an eclectic mix of celebrity guests, including Katie Couric, Chelsea Peretti, Rick Springfield and Kenny G.