PAT T I L A B E L L E
Can you tell us about the first time you ever performed in New York City? Oh goodness. I can’t
remember the first time, it’s been way too long! But I can say that my most memorable performance in New York City was when Labelle performed at The Met.
What is your favorite place in NYC? What do you love about it? It may sound corny, but I love Central Park! I like
to go there and just walk around and people watch whenever I’m in the city and have time.
What are you looking forward to the most about your Pride Island performance? I’m looking forward to all of my children jumping and shouting and just going crazy! I want everyone to enjoy themselves. It’s going to be a fun time!
Do you have any pre-show rituals? What are they? My band and I always pray together before every show.
What is your favorite song to sing? I love to sing the Lord’s Prayer. Also “Over the Rainbow!”
If you could duet with anyone who would it be? Why? Aretha Franklin.
So many artists look up to you; who were your idols? Nina Simone, Gloria Lynn, Dakota Staton, Esther Phillips
You are known for your music and your cooking. What else are you passionate about? Cleaning. I love
to clean! Even though I have a housekeeper, I clean before he gets to my house. And I really love cleaning windows. I love Windex!
What is your favorite thing to cook? Pasta. I can’t eat
that much of it because I’m diabetic, but I love it! So a lot of the time I’ll do wheat pasta. But I make a seafood penne with clam, shrimp, lobster and crabmeat and white sauce. And I like to do meatballs and hot Italian sausage with red sauce. I enjoy making lamb chops and peach cobbler, too!
What is “cooking” for you in 2017? Oh gosh… everything!
I’m never not on tour. And I’ll be promoting my new cookbook, Desserts LaBelle, and my very first jazz album, Bel Hommage! I’ll also be working on my TV show, Patti LaBelle’s Place, and new products with Walmart. And I plan to play with mybeautiful grandchildren for as long as I can!
I’ve done a lot of collaborations over the years, but I’ve always wanted to sing with Aretha. I love her voice!
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Patti LaBelle wears NIKOS KOULIS and JOVANI