Singer, actress and entrepreneur Patti LaBelle says she isn’t a big star yet — and is still “going to climb higher.”
“As far as me being that real super, super, super superstar woman, I’m not there yet,” the award-winning performer told CBS News.
But she said she’s “pleasant” and happy with who she is: “I’m ecstatic. I love the Patti LaBelle that’s here now.”
She’s been touring for 11 months this year.
Patti LaBelle doesn’t plan on retiring anytime soon after over 60 years as an entertainer.
The “Lady Marmalade” singer sat with CBS Mornings and revealed that Mariah Carey, Ledisi, and Jazmine Sullivan are all set to appear on her new album.
“[There will be] a lot of surprises,” said LaBelle, 78. After dabbling in several genres including jazz and gospel, the Philly native revealed that her constant need to reinvent herself is “very intentional.”
“You don’t want to become boring to people,” she explained.
“A lot of people, when they meet me, they say ‘Are you still working? Are you still touring?’ I said, ‘Google me, boo,’” LaBelle said. “I’m always on the run. I’m booked, and busy and blessed.”
LaBelle’s steps to stardom began at church when her mother made her go to choir rehearsal after hearing her voice. She recalled having stage fright at the time, and said she didn’t want to sing with other people.
The women wound up on a call in which Sullivan expressed her longtime admiration. “When we talked on the phone, she said ‘Patti LaBelle, you’re my everything. I love you so much.’ So, you see how things are misunderstood in this business … sometimes people wanna make us hate each other and say ‘oh, she don’t like her.’”
The forthcoming, untitled LP marks LaBelle’s first in 15 years, but she has yet to announce further details. In the meantime, watch songstress sashay through her iconic catalog for NPR’s Tiny Desk below.
