Singer Patti LaBelle is still going strong at 81. She recently appeared on the new Megan Thee Stallion-hosted ‘KPopped’ series mentoring Korean girl groups and is beginning the second leg of The Queens Tour with Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan and Stephanie Mills.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Throughout her storied career, Patti LaBelle has always had something hot cooking.
This year is no different for the 81-year-old entertainer who has popped up literally on Apple TV+ new Megan Thee Stallion-hosted “KPopped” series mentoring Korean girl groups.
We spoke in May 2017 while she was promoting her just released fifth book, “Desserts LaBelle: Soulful Sweets to Sing About,” in which she was paying homage to her family members by sharing stories and recipes passed down through generations.
The best seller featured the clan’s inventive takes on popovers, chicken and waffles, corn pudding and yes, the sweet potato pie.
Before she did the book, LaBelle knew people would wonder how she could take on such a venture while being diabetic and was ready with an explanation.
“Everything you see in the book you can improvise,” she told Tasty Clips. “I didn’t want people to think I was being a hypocrite by writing this 75 dessert book. When I make it for myself it’s with sugar substitute, less butter and anything that’s dangerous for a diabetic.”
We enjoyed a hearty laugh over her secret to the perfect brunch — The Three Bs.
“Bacon, biscuits and Bloody Marys,” she exclaimed. “And then a lot of gossip. Instead of drinking the tea, we pour the tea.”
Her last album, “Bel Hommage,” found the Grammy Award winner tackling a new genre at the persistence of her ex-husband — jazz.
“As a kid growing up, my brother used to play Moody’s Mood and Dakota Staton and Nina Simone, so I was aware of all the wonderful jazz singers back in the day,” LaBelle said. “I’d never done it before and wasn’t sure if I could do it well enough so that I wouldn’t be embarrassed. But finally, I said yes and started doing [songs including “Peel Me a Grape” and Shirley Horn’s classic “Here’s To Life.”].
On the television side, there were more episodes of “Patti LaBelle’s Place” for the Cooking Channel and a role in Star Jones’ VH1 adaptation of her novel “Daytime Divas.”
“I play the mother of this gentleman in a relationship with Vanessa Williams, who owns the show,” she explained. “And of course, I’m all busy into their business.”
With the recent spate of biopics in the works, surely her story on screen would make for great viewing.
“Well, I have two ladies who have said they would like to do my life,” offered the legend, “and that’s Sam Jackson’s wife, LaTanya Richardson Jackson and the girl from “Power,” Naturi Naughton. I have no clue who would end up doing me, but I love them both.”
When asked if there was anyone left in the music industry she hadn’t had a duet with, her answer left one wanting.
“I’d love to sing with Aretha Franklin,” LaBelle said. “I sang for her at the Essence Festival, but we’ve never done anything together.”
That opportunity would never happen, but she continues to perform with fellow legends Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan and Stephanie Mills as The Queens Tour begins to ramp up for leg two of its historic run through Greensboro, Atlanta, Memphis, Newark, Milwaukee, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Atlantic City and Cleveland. For more info, visit BPCTickets.com.
For more than 11 years, Bill Vaughan has kept Wave readers up to date with the latest news in entertainment. Now, we are collecting some of those past columns into what we call the Best of Tasty Clips. To contact Vaughan, visit his social media pages on Facebook and Instagram or @tasty_clips, on X @tastyclips, and on LinkedIn to William Vaughan.
