Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist - Jennifer Lopez

Episode Date: December 23, 2018

In 2001, Jennifer Lopez became the first artist in history to have America’s #1 movie and #1 album in the same week. Since then, she has added a clothing line, perfume, and a production company to her empire. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks with the superstar about building that empire, her rise to stardom, and the critics she’s faced along the way. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey guys, Willie Geist here with another episode of the Sunday Sit Down podcast. Thank you so much, as always, for clicking and listening along with us. My guest this week, the one, the only, Miss Jennifer Lopez. Yes, we got J-Lo, guys. We get into her whole career, the acting, the singing, the dancing. Jenny from the Block, on the 6, that first album in 1999, where she talked about riding the train from the Bronx into the city. She was like a girl on the outside looking in at this big city.

as she describes it to me and figuring out how do I get in? How do I make it? Well, my God, she's made it and then some. And that's actually kind of the theme of her movie, Second Act, which comes from her production company called New Yorkican Productions. It's about a woman from the Outer Boroughs, this time in Queens, not from the Bronx, who fights her way in with a little twist in the movie, as you'll hear in our conversation, to get into the world of corporate America inside Manhattan. We also get into her rise from Selena. That was her big, breakout, her first platinum album on the six, which went platinum in two weeks, and how hard it was

in that moment, because people couldn't figure her out. Are you a singer? Are you an actor? She talks about all the criticism she got. Well, you're not that great an actor. You're also not their greatest singer. You just do both. How she overcame that, overcame her own insecurities and realize actually she is pretty damn good at both. Also, American Idol. Didn't realize what a big deal American Idol was for her. She says that was a game changer in her career and her life. Also talks about her 10-year-old twins. and her now two-year relationship with former baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez. A lot to talk about with Jennifer Lopez. And apologies again this week for my raspy voice.

Seinfeld was a little raspy. This interview with J-Lo is a lot raspy. But really, you're not here for me. We're here for Jennifer Lopez. Enjoy it. Thank you for doing this, Jennifer. Thank you. I appreciate it.

I know you've been at this a little bit. We're talking about this movie a little bit. Congratulations, first of all. on the movie. You get a lot of business, you get a lot of scripts that come across your desk. What jumped out at you about this story? Well, it's funny, I do get a lot of scripts coming across our desk and that's why we created this movie.

This movie was the brainchild of my producing partner, Lane Goldsmith Thomas. She had an idea for a story about reinvention. She just felt like that's what everybody's doing right now. Like everybody's thinking about like, what do I do next? how do I, you know, get into that second act of my life? And she came up with this idea of this woman. And again, thinking about it for me, especially Taylor Made, and we weren't seeing anything like this out there.

They're not making these kinds of movies right now. And so she was just like, I want to do like a working girl type of movie, you know, kind of combined with, it's a wonderful life. And it's exactly what it is. And it's so pleasing to me, because sometimes you have an idea. And then it doesn't come out like that. But this actually funny little movie about life, you know, perfect Christmas movie. It turned out as well on the screen as it looked on paper.

Better. Better. Better. Yeah. But that's what happens when you get like the right director and they bring those words to write, the right cast, the right chemistry. You know, I have Leah, who's one of my best friends, Vanessa Hudgens, Milo Ventimile. I mean, I was like a grand slam right there.

When you're creating the movie and you're casting it, do you get to kind of like dream team selection? Like I want Leah in it. Yeah. Right. I knew that I wanted Leah to play my best friend. Obviously, I felt like if we could capture our crazy, funny, loving relationship on the screen, that it was going to be something special.

Because what we have in life is something special, you know? And with Milo first choice as well. And Vanessa, I read with a bunch of girls and no doubt in my mind. I was like, that's the girl. that's the girl. You know, it's funny. I was watching the movie, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I saw hints of the Jennifer Lopez story.

Oh, yeah. In Maya, replaced the Bronx and Queens and a little bit different place in life for Maya than you. But it's about, you know, as you've said, looking in from the outside at the big city. That's right. That's right. And being, like, you know, that out of borough girl who's like,

you know, Manhattan is like the moon. It's like you have these big dreams of what your life can be in the city. You know, one day I'm going to live there and I'm going to have girlfriends, and they're going to come over to my apartment, and I'm going to have a great job. And, you know, that was definitely me growing up. And this movie is the same type of thing, except at a different point in life. Like if I hadn't pursued what I had pursued and left really early, if I was just struggling there and trying to, you know, figure out what I wanted to do.

You know, Maya is a very different character than me, and that she has similar in many ways, but different in that she has this really, deep regret from early in her life that she can't forgive herself for and kind of makes her feel like she doesn't deserve better. She's in that part of her life where she's just about to give up. She's also what's, I think, gratifying about the movie is she gets what you hope someone like her will get because she's worked hard. She's like, all I want is the chance.

Can I get the chance? And somebody let me in? You know, I know I don't have the fancy education and I know, you know, I'm not from the right neighborhood. And I know I don't have the right parents and know the right people and all that kind of. of stuff, but can I get a chance? Can I get a little opportunity? And then when she does, she proves to herself, like, wow, not only am I capable, but

actually my life before all of this was actually pretty great. And it's not the traditional romantic comedy in that way, because she doesn't fall in love with a guy. She falls in love with her own life, and it makes it really special. Do you think about all the Mayas that might come see that? movie. Oh yeah. Somebody who's grinding and struggling and wants to achieve higher, maybe they will now.

Oh, yeah, for sure. You know, the best thing about the movie to me is people say it's so funny and, you know, it's a comedy and they laugh and they cry and they go, I didn't know I was going to cry. But they leave they're inspired. They're like, I was really inspired. And I was like, good, good. And it's not just people who haven't achieved, right? Alex saw the movie, right?

My boyfriend Alex saw the movie and he's achieved so much, made tons of money. He's doing well. And he looked at it and he was like, yeah, I didn't have that education. I've always felt a little bit like, know what that feels like to feel like you don't belong or you're less than because you didn't get that education. People don't think you're as smart. You know? So it's relatable for everybody.

Yeah, you pushed a button for me in life, which is that you can't have that next job because you didn't get that degree or that graduate degree, to which I always say, is the person good at the job? Have they hustled? Right. Have they earned the position? Right. Who care?

Who care? It's about the degree. Are they hardworking? Do they have the instinct? Do they have a creative vision? Like you can't buy passion. You can't teach it. Those are things that can't be taught at Harvard or any of these other schools, right?

You have to be born with that. And that has value as well, as much as the degree, because the degree is awesome. If you can get that, I want to give that to my kids, right? I'm hoping that they get that. But at the same time, I think it's just as important and there's just as much value in someone, maybe who didn't, who has those other things. So what's the message to someone? man or woman who goes to see this movie, what do you hope they walk out feeling?

I hope they walk out feeling like, you know what? I can do anything. There's nothing stopping me but me. There's a great line in the movie that says where Milo says to my character, you know, you were the only one who thought you weren't good enough. The only thing stopping you is you. And that is the truest statement. It's not about that other person like this guy, he has this to read.

That's why I'm not making your... This person didn't give me a chance. or this, it's you. You can find a way. If you really want to, you can find a way. And a great message for Christmas. Yes. It's an all-time movie.

You said your daughter saw it. My daughter, she's 11 years old. I was telling me I was watching it last night. And there's so many movies I watched for work that she can't see. She said, can I watch this one? Yeah, she sat down and watched it. She loved it. Yeah, my 10-year-old as well.

Yeah. And it was relatable to you at the same time to her. So it's just, it's one of those movies that you can watch with the family. And in case you didn't do a night. on this film. You got the theme song, Limitless. I do. And you directed the video for Limitless, which is about to come out. Yeah, it was my first thing that I've ever directed.

But that's not the headline. The headline is that my daughter, who's 10 years old is in it. And she plays me. We play the same character in the video. And she plays like my inner child, the little girl inside every woman who's always fighting and struggling right there with you every single day. I still feel like that, you know? And she got to do that. And it was the most bonding experience we've ever had.

I was terrified. I'm sure. I felt, oh, my God. Imagine putting your daughter like, let's go. You interview. You know, it's like doing what you do. Right. You're like, okay, are they going to be good?

Is she going to fail? I don't want her to fail. I would be a failure as a mother if she didn't even feel good after this, you know. And so when she did it and it turned out, I was so proud of her. She absolutely crushed it and surprised me with her maturity and her understanding of things. I got like this whole new outlook on her. I'm like, this is a little person? This is a little woman?

Who's this girl? I want to crush her face and hug your tight and squeeze her arm? I don't know. So amazing. And the video is so inspiring. You know, Sia wrote the song called Limitless. You know, after she saw the movie, I said, please watch it and see if you, I'd love to have a song for this movie. And she wrote Limitless.

And it's a perfect song for the movie. That marriage that really works of a song and a film. And that message of like, you know, again, look at me now. I thought I was this. I thought I had to be something else. But when I'm myself, I realize that I have all the power in the world. I'm limitless. And the video is a very empowering video about, like I said,

women kind of finally feeling that and claiming that. Now, do you think your daughter has the bug now? She's the star of a video. She's dressed up. Yeah, you know what? I think she loved it and she understands why I love it and she's good at it. She was a natural. She has the gene. I wonder where she got it. I don't know. Me or dad or whatever. But I think she realizes how much hard work it is. And that was part of the bonding. She was like, wow. I'm tired. I'm tired. I'm tired. And there was a new appreciation. That's what I man. It was like on so many levels, it was such a beautiful experience for us. And I think she's like, I'm good for a while. I think I'm good. That was fun, mom. I'm going to be a kid for a little while, and then I'll get back to this later on. So not going to drop out of fifth grade or anything like that?

Oh, okay, good. Hell no. No, no, no, no, no, no. That's not going to happen. So your team sent some behind-the-scenes video of you directing? Yes. And you are directed. This is not just your name on the door.

Oh, no, no. Every shot, every detail, the way you've always been in your career. Right. But now behind the camera. Right. Is that something you enjoyed it might want to do for a film? Yeah, I loved it. I loved it.

And I think I've been heading in that direction for a while, because everything I'm involved with, people always joke with me. Like when I said, I'm going to direct this for the first time, they're like, you've been directing everything that you do for the longest. And I go, yeah, I guess I have. But it's just taking that leap, you know, it's just the only one in charge that gets the final say.

You know, like I'm more influencing before that. So, yeah, I'd love to do more of it for sure. Maybe through your company, whatever your next project is, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's interesting to hear you talk about your 10-year-old daughter. because just reading about your story up in Castle Hill, you were only like five, six, seven years old when you started dancing, going to shows, doing things like that.

Younger, four or five years old. Were you really? Yeah. And so did you always know you wanted to be a performer? Was there any chance you weren't going to become a performer of some kind? I always knew from very young that that was my instinct. Like, that's what I wanted to do. And then you grew up in the Bronx and nobody around you was doing it.

And so then you kind of get into like those teenage years at high school, and deciding like, where am I going to go to college? And I was like, well, maybe I'll be a lawyer. I worked in a law office part-time. And I was like, maybe I'll do that. And then it just, when you got the gene, when the bug hits you, you know, I kept calling me. And eventually I just, you know, left school, left everything and pursued it full time. Because that really was my calling in a way.

It was my life's blood. I loved it. I lived for it. But you've talked about the city bank that was at the end of your block. You thought maybe I'd end up working at Cibank and that's okay. Totally. But what gave you- Like everybody else in my neighborhood.

They were happy, you know what I mean? They were just regular working class people, went to school there, worked there. The other person worked in the bodega. The other person got on the train, you know, into the city, came home by 5 o'clock. It was like, you know, did Little League. I was like I could have seen myself, you know, that would have been my life, much like Maya. So what gave you the guts then? guts then to get up and pursue your dream?

I just, I just had to do it. I don't know. There was just something inside me that was like, I want to, I want to sing, I want to dance, I want to act. That's what I want to do. And I just, it was hard. It was, you know, I had opposition. You know, my family wanted me to go to school and go to college that hope you have

for everybody. So they're, you know, get ahead and have the best chances in life. And I, but I had other ideas and plans and dreams. Was there ever a moment where you said, okay, maybe this isn't going to work out or it's not a job? Yeah, many times, many times. In the beginning, when you're younger, you don't think about it as much. You're like, I have time. You don't realize that you don't have a lot of time, but you do.

You have time. And you're kind of just going through it. But then once I became famous, I think it was a little bit more, you know, like when people start criticizing you, and you're under that microscope and the scrutiny and they're like, well, you're not good at this and you're not good at and you're like oh am i am i not because people were hiring me and i thought maybe i was and then finally you get to a place where you're like accept yourself and instead of letting all those criticism and your dreams like beat you down you just know who you are right but took a long time took a long time and a lot of fighting through those insecurities when did that start was it with selina you think when you became obviously we i don't think it was right with

Selena. I think they were like happy when I was in one lane. They were like, oh, look at this new girl coming out on the thing. And no, she was really good in that movie playing Selena. And then I said, oh, I want to sing. And they were like, well, who do you? Okay, well, let's see. Oh, her record went to number one. That's okay. All right. And then, you know, it's like now they started breaking you down. Like, and little by little it became a different thing. And then I was the diva. And then I was this. And, you know, and there was many like up and down moments. But it's hard when you really, when the record came out, I really got famous. Like, I was kind of like what known with the Selena thing.

But when I put out my record and that hit, it takes you to another level of music. Right. And then I really started, they really started going for me then. And then I was like, oh, I'm scared. Why are they saying all these things about me? This is critics, tabloids. Everything, you know, the media, you know, it is what it is. Right.

You're famous. You're a fair game. Right. You know, and I was like, oh, I didn't realize it would be like that. It was going to feel like that. And then you're just like, but I love what I do. I'm going to keep doing it. And, you know, and even though it played on my, like I said, my insecurities or my confidence,

I found a way, the love of it didn't let me give up on it. And so I just kept getting better, trying harder, working harder than everybody else. And that's it. And finally got to a point in my life as a woman, as a person, the human being, where I just felt like, I know what I'm doing. I'm good at what I do. It's okay to say that. I think women don't like to say that sometimes. You know, they don't want to give themselves the credit.

It's always like, you know, giving everybody else the credit. And they're very selfless. We're mothers, right? We're just like nurturers. Like, everybody else is okay. Right. And then you don't take care of yourself. And I think that's where we are right now.

where women are realizing to give themselves a little bit of a pat on the back. They do a lot. How long was it until you were able to do that? You heard all that noise. You heard the critics. Long time. Yeah? Long time.

And then maybe like, I don't know. I think while I was married to Mark, he really helped me with my confidence. And he was like, you're a diamond. Like, you know, when somebody cares about you, they want to build you up in a way. you know, and he saw where I suffered, and I stopped when, I stopped working as much when we got married because I wanted to, like, have this idea of, like, I wanted a marriage and kids, and I wanted to have a successful home and all that, and he helped me, he was like, you're a great singer. Don't ever let anybody tell you you're not a great singer, and I respected him so much

because I consider him one of the best singers of all time. And I was like, really? And he's like, yes, and nobody does what you do. And, you know, and he helped build that confidence. in me and that and that was really nice. But then when our marriage fell apart, it was a different, now I have like an all-time low and now I'm thinking personally I had to figure things out.

So where one thing started building up, one thing fell apart and now I felt like I had to examine myself and through the process of having children and realizing what was really important in life and prioritizing in a different way and understanding what real love was that I was able to kind of turn the lens inward and love myself and figure myself out a little bit more.

And so all of those things kind of help me get to a good place of where I feel today like I can stand in my own power and in my own shoes and my own skin and feel really good about it. I don't know if you've thought about this, but June 1st of next year will be the 20th anniversary of On the Six. Oh my God. Yeah, 1999. Hate you for that. I thought you might. I thought you might hate that. I love it, actually.

And that's really when your life exploded, as you said. Wow. Yeah. But, you know, you've also talked about fame being a crazy thing and a scary thing sometimes. Yeah. Yeah. And maybe losing track of what got you there and being caught up in it all. When you look back on those years, do you say, like, who was that person or what was I doing? Oh, yeah. Yeah.

I mean, I look back at who I was in my 20s. It's like a foreigner. It's like, who, what were you doing, you know? And I always kind of stayed the course because I was, what saved me is that I was a hard worker and I was a good person. You know what I mean? So I never like went too nuts. You know, I never had meltdowns or anything like that. But, you know, I had my trouble in my personal life and got married a couple times and trying to figure that whole thing out.

And, you know, like I said, once I finally had kids, it kind of put the world in perspective for me. I always say that Max always loves that I say that he and Emmy saved me. He's like, we saved you, mommy. I said, you so saved me. You have no idea. What do you mean by that? I just mean that they put the world in perspective for me. They put my life in perspective for me.

They made me understand what true love was and how that should feel. They made me understand what was important. And it made me just rejigger myself. And I had to be better for them. So I had to work on myself. So that changed everything about my life, my work, my personal relationships, my everything, my family, everything. And so everything just got better when they came along.

I feel that way about my kids too. Something happens. It's a life change. It's a game changer. It has a way of focusing things. Yeah. People, as you said, want to put you in a box. Are you a singer?

Are you an actor? So how do you describe yourself? Are you an entertainer? Or is it not worth putting a label on it? It's really not worth putting a label on because I don't know what I'm going to do. So let's leave it open. Let's leave it open. But I am definitely, I feel artistic.

I'm an artist to a certain sense because I love creating things. So I love singing. I love dancing. I love live performing. I love making movies. I love making television. I love making clothes. I love making perfume.

I love it all. I love directing. I love producing. All of it. All of it. Do they say that twice? Maybe. I don't know.

I just, I don't. I don't put myself in a box. And I feel like how I always have, I've kind of just kept working hard and just follow the road where it takes me. And whatever I have to grow into to do what I need and want to do, that's what I will become.

And that run of the stops on that road was American Idol. Yes. Which I'd be interested to hear you talk about that because that was another turning point. Game changer. Where people got to see you and you were real. Oh, okay, this is her beyond the superstar I see on TV. Everybody advised me not to do that show.

Really? Yeah, they just felt like, oh, then your acting career and your singing career will be over. That's for people who are not doing it anymore. And I was like, yeah, no, I don't think so. I don't think so. And again, it's one of those things when you're more sure of yourself. I had my kids. I was following my own gut, understanding my own kind of like what I could bring to the table.

to that show. And I said, people get to see me for me, like how much I love music and how much I care about it and what I know about performing. All the experience I can share with these kids. And it was exciting to me. And I was a huge fan of the show. And I think for the first time, people got to see me. They got to see me. Like, without a script, without a song, without performing, without a costume on, right? Not playing a cat. And character, not kind of guessing or reading what the media was writing about me, but they could see it. Because reality TV has a way of doing that, of just kind of stripping you back. You can't hide who you are. You are who you are. And that's going to come out in 10 episodes, 20 episodes, 30 episodes. You can't hide it that long. So that was a good thing.

I think those shows do help that. I mean, because people have an image of you, fair or not, you're a diva, you're a superstar, or all those things. And then they go, oh, I see something else. She has a heart. Yeah. She's sweet. Oh, she's funny. Oh, she's stupid. She's silly.

I like that. You know, they see all the sides of you. So I can't think of anything you haven't done. But is there something else that's on your mind? Well, directing is the new thing, I think, for me. And I don't know when I'll do it again. This was the first little foray into it. And I'm excited about it.

And we'll see. You know, yeah. I think a movie. the movie? I think maybe. Maybe. We'll take it slow. You mentioned Alex from the outside anyway. It feels like you're in a great place in your life. Yeah. I think he would probably say the same thing. Yeah. What has that relationship meant to you? Well, he's bought something to my life that I've never had before, which is kind of an unconditional support and love and kind of a matching of like twin souls. That's a different thing for me. You know, I've never,

I said, oh, God, now I know what's like to be with me. I mean, he works as much as I do. He's kind of as driven as I am. Like, he almost drives me crazy. I'm like, stop. And then I'm like, he's like, well, you're still working. And I'm like, oh, yeah, is that what it's like to be with me? Holding up a mirror to you.

Yeah, it's like holding up a mirror in the best way. And then on another hand, he's the total opposite of me. We have a totally different set of life skills, you know, and where I am, you know, lacking he is. strong and when he is lacking I am strong and we kind of fill in the blanks for each other which is really nice and he said the kids get along incredibly well the kid they do yeah no he didn't say it they do just do yeah yeah yeah they get along really beautifully first of all they're four really it's like loving souls all four of them and so

that's beautiful and then to watch them kind of embrace each other as like these bonus brothers and sisters that they get to have and hang out and they're all around the same age. So it's really sweet. It's surprising sometimes. I think adults have a hard time kind of accepting that because we're so complicated. Right. And we don't let things be as great as they can be sometimes with our junk.

And kids are kind of more open to it. And they're like, yeah, I love having these people around. And they're so cool and let's play. Right. Oh, I love you. It happens right away. It's so sweet. It's really lovely.

Is there anything you've learned from being in so many high-profile relationships that you bring to this relationship? No, it was more about me. It wasn't like so much the high-profileness of them or anything like that. Even though you've got to keep certain things sacred, I mean, we're in the era of oversharing on social media and everything like that. It's like, even if you don't want to, you are. Because you can't, like, be on there without, you know, letting it out because you get happy and you, whatever, right? But I think it was more about, I don't know, like me, like me fixing me to make a relationship work. You know, I don't think it was anything had to do with anybody

else, including the media or anybody. But didn't hurt to find the right guy. Well, when you get right, when you get right, then you find writer people for yourself, you know. Okay, I've got to ask you before I let you go on behalf of all of America, but particularly America's women. How you do it? No caffeine, no alcohol, lots of sleep. What is the secret? Yeah, sleep is that, it helps. You know, and people always go, how do you get sleep out? It's just like, get seven to nine hours of sleep, like carve it out. Now, the other hours of the day, I'm going full speed. I'm full speed on the rest. But when I lay down and I'm like, okay, I need my rest. And when I don't get it, there's something's going to suffer.

You know, like it will. And I've learned that. And I've hit the wall. I've had the nervous breakdown where I freeze up and, like, from doing too much and not getting sleep and all that. So that's super important to me. I can't do that now that I have kids. You know? Right.

Can't have the freeze up. Right. You can't do that. No caffeine at all. Is that true? No caffeine. Okay. No alcohol.

No alcohol. Any other secrets? No smoking, no, you know. Live clean. A little sleep. I do. I try to look clean. I don't eat perfect.

I eat well. I try to eat well. Like, so people eat super clean, that's not me, you know. But I try to regulate myself and live healthy and, you know, but also enjoy myself. Congratulations on the movie. Thank you so much, Jennifer. I appreciate it.

My thanks again to Jennifer for sitting down with me. You can catch her new movie Second Act in Theaters Now. And thanks as always to all of you for tuning in again this week. You can check out our library of extended conversations with all my guests, including last week. with the great Jerry Seinfeld. Don't forget to click subscribe so you never miss an episode. And of course, be sure to tune in to Sunday today every weekend on NBC.

I'm Willie Geist. We'll talk to you again next week on the Sunday Sit Down podcast.