Richie Sambora Reveals What Inspired the Lyrics of Bon Jovi's Hit 'Livin' on a Prayer': 'It's a Lot of People's Story'

Richie Sambora (left) and Jon Bon Jovi performing in Detroit in June 1985.Photo:Ross Marino/Getty Ross Marino/Getty It’s the ultimate singalong — and now we know some of the backstory. On the Nov. 12 episode of theHowie Mandel Does Stuffpodcast, formerBon JoviguitaristRichie Samborareflected on the creation of the group’s biggest hit: “Livin’ on a Prayer.” “It was the first time that we used characters in the lyric,” the musician told Mandel, 68, before citing some of the lyrics.

Rick Riordan Never Expected the Longevity of Percy Jackson 19 Years After the First Book: 'Mind-Boggling' (Exclusive)

Rick Riordan of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” poses in the IMDb Official Portrait Studio at D23 2024 at Honda Center on August 09, 2024 ; ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess’.Photo:Corey Nickols/Getty; Disney Hyperion Corey Nickols/Getty; Disney Hyperion WhenRick Riordanstarting writingPercy Jacksonnovels, his son was just a middle schooler. Now, he’s in his 30s. The acclaimedPercy Jacksonseries author released the second book in his newest trilogy,The Senior Year Adventures, on Sept.

Rick Springfield Says He 'Feels Like I'm in My 20s' as He Celebrates 75th Birthday (Exclusive)

Rick Springfield in Las Vegas on Aug. 17, 2024.Photo:Denise Truscello Denise Truscello Rick Springfieldwill forever be young at heart.Ahead of his 75th birthday on Aug. 23, the “Jessie’s Girl” singer told PEOPLE the milestone feels like a “bit of a shock.““It makes you understand your age,” he says. “I still feel like I’m in my 20s in my head, and then you see people dying from old age disease and you go, ‘Wow, I’m the same age as old people.

Ricki Lake Looks Back at Her Barrier-Breaking Talk Show — and the Story of That Iconic Oprah Photo (Exclusive)

Ricki Lake in 2004 (left) and 2024.Photo:Paul Drinkwater/Bravo via Getty; Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Paul Drinkwater/Bravo via Getty; Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Ricki Lakeis still having big conversations with her audience, 20 years after her eponymous hit talk show’s conclusion. “We just took a look at my life from where I am in it now, and I’m definitely in a place of having cracked the code to what makes me happy and what I want in my life, in midlife,” she tells PEOPLE.

Ridley Scott Says​​Gladiator IIIs Just ‘as Good’ as Oscar-Winning Original (Exclusive)

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’.Photo:Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Ridley Scottis sharing his thoughts on the upcomingGladiator IImovie! Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at theAlien: Romuluspremiere on Monday, Aug. 12, the filmmaker, 86, gave some insight into what fans can expect from the sequel to the May 2000 original. “It’s as good as the first one,” Scott tells PEOPLE. “I didn’t say better. It’s as good.” Gladiator IIis set to arrive in theaters on Nov.