The Breakfast Club - Best of full interview: Stephanie Mills, Patti LaBelle & Chaka Khan Talk Longevity, 'Diva' Stigma, Industry Standards + More

Episode Date: January 1, 2026

Best of 2025- Queens - Stephanie Mills, Patti LaBelle & Chaka Khan Talk Longevity, 'Diva' Stigma, Industry Standards. Recorded 2025. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions than answers? Who catfishes a city? Is it even safe to snort human remains? Is that the plot of Footloose? I'm comedian Rory Scoville,

and I'm here to tell you, Josh Dean and I have a new podcast that celebrates the amazing creativity of the world's dumbest criminals. It's called Crimeless, a true crime comedy podcast. Listen on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltson. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed.

It doesn't matter how much I fight. It doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this. It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in. Nashville on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Who would you call if the unthinkable happened? My sister was y'all 22 times.

A police officer, right? But what do you do when the monster is the man in blue? This dude is the devil. He'll hurt you. This is the story of a detective who thought he was above the law until we came together to take him down. I said, you're going to see my face till the day that you die. I got you, I got you, I got you.

Listen to the girlfriends, Untouchable, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, everybody, it's Michelle Williams, host of checking in on the Black Effect Podcast Network. You know, we always say New Year, New Me, but real change starts on the inside. It starts with giving your mind and your spirit the same attention you give your goals. And on my podcast, we talk mental health, healing, growth, and everything you need to step into your next season, whole and empowered. New Year, Real You. Listen to checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I know he has a reputation, but it's going to catch up to him.

Gabe Ortiz is a cop. His brother Larry, a mystery Gabe didn't want to solve until it was. was too late. He was the head of this gang. You're going to push that line for the cause. Took us under his wing and showed us the game as they call it. When Larry's killed, Game Must Untangle a Dangerous

Passed, one that could destroy everything he thought he knew. Listen to the Brothers Ortiz on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know the shade is always Shadiest right here. Season 6 of the podcast Reasonably Shady with

Giselle Bryan and Robin Dixon is here. dropping every Monday. As two of the founding members of the Real Housewives Potomac were giving you all the laughs, drama, and reality news you can handle. And you know we don't hold back. So come be reasonable or shady with us each and every Monday. Listen to reasonably shady from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We're finished or y'all done? Morning, everybody.

It's DJ NV. Just hilarious. Salomeyne de Guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Long La Roses is here with us as well. And we got a special guest in the building today. No, these are icons. These are some icons.

These are, I think legend is even an understatement. Okay. I can only think of one word, Queens. Yes, Queens. And then another word, icons. That's it. But there you have it. We have Stephanie Mills.

Patty LeBelle and Shop the Con. Welcome. Come on now. Welcome. How are y'all feeling? Y'all look amazing. Thank you. We're happy to be here.

We are. We're happy to be here. Good morning. Now, y'all are on the Queen's tour. Why couldn't this have happened decades ago? Like decades ago. Why couldn't people put this together? Wasn't old enough.

Weren't old enough? No, I just think it wasn't the right time. I think this is definitely the right time. And Patty and Gladys and I have worked together, and I've always wanted to work with Shaka. So they came together, and put it together and I was like yes let's do it is there enough time for a show to have y'all have so many hits so many records how long is the show how long is the concert it's about two hours

long it's not long we have quick quick moments we have like 50 minutes apiece and you can holly say hello and good night with that but that's what we do man man man man how do y'all decide who closes though i feel like that might have been a little debate on who closes it's never a debate shocker closes Okay. Gladys opens. I come on second and then Ms. Patty. Miss Patty comes out. I like to open the show, but I can get that position.

Me actually, it would be like, oh, really. What we do it, right? Oh, that's why you like to open the show? Yeah. Leave, honey. Yeah. You would get home and get back home? I don't know.

Watch some movies and eat some cookies. Some cookies. At this stage in your careers, is it harder or easier to navigate I guess ego would be the right word. Are there any egos? No, I don't, I haven't seen any. No, we haven't seen it. Not Nabu.

No way. God is the only ego. God is the only ego. He's the on this one. Ms. Chaka Khan, when you said you guys weren't old enough to do this. That's a joke. Oh, okay. I mean, because when you mentioned God is the only ego, I didn't know if it was like

you were saying that you had to get to a point where that's something that you realized in the industry. because you deal with so many egos navigating. I still am. It never stopped. Life never stopped. Is there any friendly competition? No.

No, not at all? No, not at all. Just doing your second movement? We just do our thing. We have fun watching each other and doing each other. We're all individual. We've got to keep on giving it. Individual in our rights.

We are all different people. We do. We do. We do. Individuals. Yes. So how does this all come together? because I know it's hard to get any of y'all

to want to do something, you know, because y'all've got great lives already. Schedules, timing. So they're going to tour as a collective? Like, what? Well, the whole thing with me was that I felt that this was going to be a one-off ever in life. Like one concert?

Some of us. Okay. Some of us, you know, we weren't going to get the chance to be able to be seen together on one stage or one night for all of us. Collective. So, and when, I realized the importance of that for the people who grew up listening to our song.

Babies who are weaned on us, a carinaw. I think it made a big difference. You know, that was what was going to compel me. Well, you have a surprise about the ages of people that come to the show because it varies from young teens. No, I expected that. I did because I get it off the chat. You know, kids are saying, I was weaned on you.

Right. They made children on our music. People have babies on our music. When you have those young individuals in the show, let's say they're 21, 22, and they're trying to holler at y'all. Does that say, like, I still got it. No, I don't get nobody.

Why are you talking like that? He's talking about young boys trying to come back. They're like, why? They still look so beautiful. They're trying to say that. Hey, God, I'm just asking the question. They just say that. I'm just like that.

young boys holling at them like damn I don't want no young boy tell them miss mill I don't I want them mature and older but the problem with them is they want the young girls why I don't know especially when y'all look like this what you want a 20 year old and don't even know how to wipe correct because we want to show

them that this is how you age gracefully that's right and you could still do your thing we're all beautiful I have a routine to like keep your voice strong and your body ready after sleep I sing, I sing every day and I go about six days a week.

I'm serious. Patty sings. Yeah, I mean, I don't sing every day. She don't sing every day, but she keeps it together. I'll be hitting those high notes. Thank you. Thank you, honey. I do what I do.

And at 81, I'm still hanging. She's the queen. She's the queen. She's the queen. He's my queen. Yes. My baby. Yes.

I swear. I still old Patty a pull-up. I promise I was going to come. one Thanksgiving. My kids are a little older now, so they're a lot, they'll sit in the corner when you tell them to sit in the corner now. So I'm going to pull up one Thanksgiving. If I'm still in. Yeah. You should. We're going to be playing Atlantic City students. So you should have a big place. A big place of food. It's to be cooking.

That's right. Some good food. They're cooking. Are you cooking for them at some of the stops? You know I would like to. I'm not letting the cook for me because why. Because after the tour. Oh, after. She's being good. Because, yeah, I'm trying to be good. No, I better not then. I better not cook for my babies. Do y'all feel like toys like just remind people what a real show is supposed to be?

Yes, absolutely. Because we have real band, nothing's taped. Our microphones are on. They work. We are actually singing. Yes, we are actually singing, yeah. And do you think fans have the same appreciation for live instrumentation and raw vocals

that they did like when y'all first hit the stage decades ago? I think that's why. I would have not even know the difference. Someone may not even know what the hell's going on, you know? And that's what's unfair and messed up about it, is that when you go up there, you should represent yourself, honestly. You know, you sing in the mic. You know, if you have to have tricks and gags and Googles and stuff like that, you know,

do what you've got to do. But I'm saying, I'm not about it. I've walked on, we walked on the stage, many times a horse. Can't hit all the notes. That's just the way life is. You know, but you give everything. You give everything to God. And that is something that people can definitely.

They know they can feel that. What do you think to make this tour so important, right? Because seeing so many icons and queens and legends on that stage, you don't get to see that so much. But the fact that we see it with you guys, what makes it so important? And why did you all guys agree to do it? It's important that we as black women represent ourselves the right way. Like Steph said, there's no pretend singing.

No stuff, because people have a lot of stuff in their shows. We just go out. No tricks. There's nobody flying through the air. None of that. Not that that's not good, but, I mean, we just give shows like we did back in the day. Just pure, raw, flat foot stand there and sing. I mean, we come from, like, actually similar, but almost the same generational.

Our generation levels are like that. stairs and um it's close you know they're close enough yet far enough apart to reach a really big audience you know i'm saying a huge audience and it's just been the by the grace of god they just come together in such a good way you know you know i want to ask you know miss billabelle and miss con you all been labeled divas i don't know i've never heard that term for you Do y'all look at that as a complimentary term or derogatory? I'll take anything, but I'm not a diva. You know, because divas are the ones who demand as far as I'm concerned.

I'm not that girl. And neither is shocker. And baby girl never will be, you know. We just sing. We give it. I mean, we're, I'm an artist. I'm an artist. Really?

I mean, for the status, y'all add, y'all shouldn't have to demand anything. We don't. We don't have to. We don't have to We don't and we don't What is it like When the cameras and the lights are down Backstage which y'all are just touring

What are y'all learning from each other On this tour? We don't get a chance to see each other We were right on, right behind each other I see her I'm running home to sleep I see her Because watching y'all in here

You've got to have a chance to hang out I've been on over years and then We're on, on and off But coming in When I'm coming in She's coming off. I see her, I'm going, I'm coming in. She's going to say, like there's that dog that big,

that dog that watching the sheet. Hey, Mark. They're putting in the time card. It's like that. We don't really get a chance to check. Not this, not on, we're working. We're working. We'll talk after the show.

And some days that we have all. This whole thing is over with. Not on tour. I want to know, like, outside of music and touring, what brings you joy outside of that? I'm sure Patty is cooking. But what gives you joy? Like what makes you happy outside of this crazy industry?

My great grandbabies. You know my family. Stephanie? My son. My son gives me joy. And just being with pops and being with people that I love. Your son gives me joy. Watching him watch him.

He's a lovely boy. He's a lovely young show. He's so cute. He has his little glitter jacket on. He's so cute. It's adorable. When y'all first started, did any of you all think you all would have these long career that y'all would have had and still be on tour still be in demand

still be relevant still be in later like i never did i never did because i was always told you know dark girls don't you know after a while they were like oh people are not going to promote dark girls so i was always told no you can't do it you do it so i was always working against that right yes you know so i'm surprised because people didn't think i was going to still be here and it's the 50th year anniversary of the whiz 50 years ago i did the whiz Wow, that's great. Same thing for you, Ms. LaBelle? You didn't think you was going to be here?

No, I didn't. Why? Because I had an issue also with my being a black woman with a big nose. And a friend of mine got her nose done. And I said, oh, I think I need to try that. Maybe I'll get one gig. I tried it. I did.

I have a new nose. You could say it. I don't care. You came to my house. It was me. I had my nose done in the early 80s. And I went to her house for dinner. And she said, what did you do?

I said, what did you do? And she was like, I would get one. And I did right after I saw Stephanie. I didn't know you guys didn't know neither one of y'all I got nose at. I had to. And she did. This wasn't cute. God best her.

She had one too. All of them do it. You know all the girls do it. Yeah, but y'all don't need it. Y'all beautiful. I wouldn't go get them. That's the only thing that I've ever done. Excuse my French.

Go ahead. Who's all the French you want? You could not cut me for a nation. But now I think I look like Shaka. Shaka and I could be sisters. But you never had nothing done either, Shaka. Hell no. They said you got a BBL.

What's that? A butt job. It's a Brazilian butt left butt left. What all these young girls are doing. It's called a Brazilian butt left. How long has my butt been like this? My whole life. Yes, ma'am.

In the 60s and 77 BBL there's going on all. Right. I have the same behind. I've always had. Somebody's trying to make that, but look like somebody else is within BBLs. You call them. That's right, no. They look like ants.

Somebody's got it natural. Yeah, that's why they came like that. Shock is all her. So hold on, Ms. LaBelle, when you got the nose job, did you get more gigs? Did it change anything? I think it did. Really? Because it was more pleasant of some people.

Well, more self-esteem probably. But when I saw my girlfriend, I said, I'm going to try that. I remember that too Oh, so well And I didn't want to tell people That you were my inspiration Because I didn't know if you wanted me Talk about that

Girl, I didn't know, I don't care Well, I'm talking now Yes Okay, so yeah, this is my girl I followed her Yes, I did So who did you follow? Michael Jackson

Okay Yeah, Michael So after he got it That's when you wanted to do it up Yes, I went to the same doctor Wow Michael took me to the Chuck, why are you about open like that?

You didn't know that? She said, I didn't know. Oh, me, speak louder. Oh, speak louder. Michael, Michael Jackson. Yeah. That's who I followed.

I mean, that's such an interesting conversation because, you know, all of these, everybody's doing it now, right? Thinking that it's going to get them ahead in some way, shape, or form. Oh, they just like that. This is something that's been going on. Yes, it has. That's the only thing I've done, though. And it's something that people shouldn't be ashamed of if they want to do anything to their body or their face.

This is all I've ever done. I ain't getting cut in the world. No. No, that's all. And that was early. It was. Early 80. Because people get nervous, they say it's addictive.

Like, once you get one, then you have to do something else. I think Michael got a little addictive, you know. But I didn't. I didn't go back. He had nose problems, so you didn't have any problem like with. He didn't. Okay. Maybe not.

It's just amazing how the industry standards of beauty have seemed like they've never changed. Oh, I love that. It's my baby. That's amazing. It just seems like the industry standards. standards of beauty have never changed and it's just kind of heartbreaking to see that even back then y'all were falling victim to what they thought well they wanted you to look a certain way

i've always been told i should sing pop songs but what is pop songs but popular you know and i love my audience so i just stayed true to who i was and stayed focused on what i wanted to do as the patty and and gladys you know who has more hits than both all of us she has a billion Ms. Patty LaBelle, was it when you decided that you want to get your nose job? I know you said you didn't like your notes personally, but were things being said to you as well? Yes. By who and what? By a manager that I had at the time.

It was shocked his face. Don't wait a view. No, no. I mean her. The shocker's face is hilarious. I can't help that. That's all good. I love it.

It's all right. Yeah. It was a manager that I had back in the day, a white gentleman. And he said so many things. But whenever I sang, he said, my God. I said, is it all right if I keep this note? You know, things like that thing. He was just me.

And, um... Where is he? I slapped the shit out of me. He's not living now. He's gone by-bye. Oh, he's not in a while. He's gone by-bye. Yeah. So, yeah, you know, so I just said I'll do it once I saw her.

Yeah. You'd be surprised what female artists go through, what we have to go through. to even do what we do today to have people respect us to respect our talent to respect that we're women and we're black women. And it's harder

but you have to demand of us. Ms. Khan, you never faced any of those same struggles? You never faced any of those same struggles? I don't know if they did. They never told me. They ain't said nothing to me. No. But I know

I'm aware of the stigma you know that black woman I'm aware of the whole situation but no I you know you've always had a reputation and not taking no shit from what I've been told

that's exactly true she's bad she looks like she's rough ain't no time you know life is short it's no time so honesty integrity all those things are very important

to me So I could have that Did you always have that confidence Or was that something that just You grew over time I knew what I wanted to be Sort of when I was a kid I mean I left

I went away at 16 I didn't finish high school I pretty much knew what I wanted to do And my dad said But you don't want to go to college I said I said no I don't need to Well you can read right

I said you know I can read dad We just read the same books My dad and I So he said well that's cool He said, you could just read what you want and be that. I said, yeah, if I want. I didn't know I wanted to be an entertainer or a singer, but I know I wanted to work with people.

I really wanted to, you know what to be a lot of things. But I really wanted to be hands-on. So I get to do that to, and to sing. What was it that drew you to? I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltson. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville? tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed.

We have some breaking news to tell you about. Tennessee's Attorney General is suing a Nashville doctor. In April 2024, a fertility clinic in Nashville shut down overnight and trapped behind locked doors were more than a thousand frozen embryos. I was terrified. Out of all of our journey, that was the worst moment ever. At that point, it didn't occur to me. what fight was going to come to follow.

But this story isn't just about a few families' futures. It's about whether the promise of modern fertility care can be trusted at all. It doesn't matter how much I fight. Doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this. It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in Nashville on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

You know, we always say New Year, New Me, real change starts on the inside. It starts with giving your mind and your spirit the same attention you give your goals. Hey everybody, it's Michelle Williams, host of Checking in on the Black Effect Podcast Network. And on my podcast, we talk mental health, healing, growth, and everything you need to step into your next season, whole and empowered. New Year, Real You. Listen to Checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions

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until we came together to take him down. I told Roger Galuski, I said, you're going to see my face to the day that you die. Listen to the girlfriends, untouchable, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. You know the shade is always shady. It's right here.

Season 6 of the podcast Reasonably Shady with Giselle Bryan and Robin Dixon is here dropping every Monday. As two of the founding members of the Real Housewives Potomac were giving you all the laughs, drama, and reality news you can handle. And you know we don't hold back. So come be reasonable or shady with us each and every Monday. I was going through a walk in my neighborhood. Out of the blue, I see this huge sign next to somebody's house. Okay. The sign says, my neighbor is a Karen.

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the arts once you fixed, like it's people, but then you started to sing. What got you into singing? Well, my mother and father, I grew up in a house of music. My mother and father both sang, and they were both artists as well. We had frescas and murals all over the wall. We didn't know that we were living,

that we didn't have any money. I mean, our apartment, we had frescas on the walls and Chaumseilles and the dining room and all sorts of, every room had a different scheme, and it was really nice to grow up like that. But I just, and I grew up in a, you know, if you grew up around a university, then you get to meet a lot of other people that you wouldn't ordinarily meet

from other countries and bits like that. So that, I think that was also something that was helpful in that decision in life, you know. You know, one thing I'd like about you, Ms. Conn, is, you know, you've always been open about, like, your struggles and your triumphs. Do you feel like being transparent has, help fans connect deeper with you, or do you think sometimes people weaponize your honesty? About both ways.

Both of them, yeah. I can handle it. So it's not about you? Not for me. Oh, okay, got you. So what is it about? I don't know what it's about. I don't know, like you said, weaponization.

And sometimes people get it, you know. So you're thankful for the ones that get it. Mm-hmm. You know? That's about all you can really do. Thank you very much. Thank you. What else can you do?

We're trying to co-habitate here. You know, that's the most important thing. That we can co-habitate, co-get-ticket. Absolutely. Do you embrace the title, the Queen of Funk? Or do you feel like that puts you win? I think it's called me kind of short because I think I'm the queen of a lot of things.

I mean, musically. I mean, you know, that's just like cutting it real short for me. I sing everything. I think so. I mean, I can sing Japanese. music if you just give me the right way to pronounce it. I'm saying that too.

I have no problem. That's the only thing. I just think it's cutting me kind of short. And I'm not being big-headed about or anything like that. It's a fact. I just can do music. I play drums. I play a lot of things. What about you, Mr. Blah? They call you the god

by the soul. Does that crown come with pressure or do you feel it's well-earned flowers? No, well-earned. That's a nice one. I love flowers, you know. But no, I mean, I take whatever they give me. Whatever, right. You know, and I'm blessed that people are even thinking about giving me some kind of title or whatever.

In the end? Yeah. I'm blessed, and I know it. Ms. Mills, we saw you earlier this year, you called out the Essence Festival. And I thought it was constructive criticism, you know, it wasn't like you was just bashing and why did you feel the need to do that? She did that.

I was so happy. Keep on her. Because I was there. the whole weekend and I saw all the acts and it was just very poorly run and it didn't it didn't show respect to the artist you know and I remember essence from Susan Taylor and mr. Lewis and it was always prestigious and ran with respect and that just was not there and so I could not sit and let them accuse you know people for being late when it was them that was late and run it bothered me and at 68 I really don't care what people think about me I'm going to stay and do what I want to do

I feel like I burned that right absolutely so I wanted to call them up but I did it respectfully I didn't want to be ghetto about it I wanted to be constructive and that's what I did well they said they were going to fix it they said they were getting down to the bottom of the things that went wrong and they were going to make sure that I'm glad I'm glad they took full of you know accountability for Daddy was there. Oh, honey, it was awful. It was awful. Yeah, so when I saw what you did, I said, go girl.

Keep on talking. Don't stop. Yep, she tells me, keep on talking. Don't stop. Yep. You have a lot to say. So what you do, Ms. LaBelle? You got it to them privately or?

Did I what? Did you say anything to them privately or? No, no. And I had one song with J.S. Right. I couldn't chitchette too much about anything because I didn't have a set of my own. You know, so I knew somebody would take care of it. I felt like I was.

for everybody you know what I'm saying I feel like I feel like I'm because I'm not afraid I don't have any fear I only fear God so I'm not afraid when people say oh if you do this you're going to be blacklisted I'm black already so you know what I'm saying I don't I don't really care I'll put all my glasses and see if I give it damn about it you were there the whole weekend so you seen a bunch of artists I've seen a bunch of artists I saw what they did I saw how late they were putting the shows together and I had a incidents with with the owner's daughter. And I didn't talk about that, but it was just not respectful. I was going to ask, what artists are you loving right now that you've seen since you've watched a lot of the show?

Is there artists right now that just came out that you're like, I really like that person. That person is doing an amazing job. I love Jasmine Sullivan. I love Selena Johnson. I love Leah. What's her name? Oh, she says that's not Leah.

Oh, I can't think of her name, but I see her face. I love Lela. Hathaway, you know, I love a lot of the singers. But I see, I listen to a lot of the old, when I'm singing to get ready for my shows, I'm doing Ashford and Simpson. And I do them because they sing the melody, but they still go around it. So they stay in the pocket. And that's what I, that's what I try to do. And then I listen to my songs so I could sound somewhat like I sounded back in the day. What about you, Shaka Khan? Is there artists right now that you like

an R&B artist that? Yeah, I would like a lot of it. It goes on. Did I really like her? Her. She's special. Yeah, we're going to do some stuff together. Really? He's the closest thing to Prince.

That's so far. Wow. Patty LeBelle, who do you feel? Honey, I know. Young people. So many. So many, yeah. I mean, I do love Cocoa.

Oh, yeah. Coco Jones? Oh, wow. That's singing full, honey. You know, like. She says you're singing fool. She is. I mean, she sings her face off.

And there are so many. young girls who are singing, I might not remember names, but I know I like certain music. Now, some of these artists reached out to do besides her reached out to do records and would y'all consider doing them or you're like, I don't know. Well, there's some thoughts, you know, me and Cardi B possibly. You and Cardi B? Oh, that's funny.

I love that. Are you thinking about it? Oh, have you done on Cardi, new album? You on her, new album? No. Oh. Oh, she's going to be on mine. She wants to do something.

She's going to be on hers. Yeah. No, Cardi's my girl. We did a commercial together. Mm-hmm. Bond it. But I haven't had a record out in like 15 years, R&B album. Or 20 years.

And I've been working on her for the last six months. But I got it coming. You're still on tour. Very fabulous. So, Cardi, what about you, Shaka? Ms. Kahn, I'm sorry, Shaka Khan. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I don't know.

They told me Shaka. Shaka. Shaka. You can't know me Shacka. I don't want to. I don't say Ms. Shaka. I can't say Ms. Shaka. And whatever makes you comfortable.

Ms. Shaka, what about yourself? The beginning of the year. Yeah. I have, um, Sia and I have gotten together to do a little pop album. And, um, I got some nice surprise. I got, well, um,

it was on that so far I can talk about, uh, oh, Snoop is on there. I got Snoop rapping on one. Mm-hmm. Um, but I got quite a few other surprises. But, I know you do.

It's going to be. It's been interesting. I saw you perform with Dua Lipa as well, too. Yeah, Dua, we did. We jammed. Yeah, I came and jammed with her the other day. How do you pick and choose, all three of you ladies? How do you pick and choose, like, when artists call you and say, hey, I'm almost paying tribute, we'll love to have you, where you're, like, you're laying your actual face and presence to an artist.

If they could sing. That's it. Oh. Come on, now. A singer, do something special. Yeah. I mean, Cardi's not a singer, singer. Right.

But she's special. Yeah. Yeah. It's an entertainer. have any of the younger artists because y'all talked about like the showmanship of what you guys do and what you're used to have any of the younger singers or any performers reached out to you guys and say hey i need help with my actual show in my and getting to my audience and how did that calls from jennifer hudson my other baby you know when she was doing respect she wanted me to talk to her about aritha and stuff that we did and we plan to do things together also but they do call and they do get information because we've been on the road for all our lives and things that we've been through we could let them know that you might have to go through this and you might be lucky and you don't have to do it yeah I love giving info

I want to ask you too miss Mills you talked about this being the 50th year anniversary of the Wiz how is that criticism of your role as Dorothy on Broadway shaped the way you showed up throughout your whole career it's funny criticism and people that are not nice to me or whatever inspire me to be even better it makes me stronger because I have a strong will I came from a strong mother so if you're unkind or if you're criticizing the way I look or the way it just makes me stronger I'm going to be better the next time you see me and that's how I dealt with it throughout my whole career I just don't I don't

let it I let it wash off of me what about you miss Lebel how you've dealt with criticism I love it yeah it makes you know a lot of people say well after 50 you don't do much you can't do much right so anytime someone says something negative about me or push me for yes you know because I know I can do you know and like I said let them keep talking it makes you popular yes I always say just get the name right spell it right yeah what about you Mishogne I don't get much criticism. But, um,

but, um, but. When you, when you had got criticized after the verses, did that bother you? I'm not talking about that. Oh, okay. Shut your ass right up. And I'm going to shut up. I want to know, you know, when, when artists sample your music, is there sometimes you'd be like,

nah, I'm not doing it. Because sometimes artists, you be like, well, if you curse, you can't, I'm not going to clear it. Do y'all listen to the records when they try to sample? your record, your music? Oh, of course. Yeah, I've had some moment. You've shut some people down, like, I just don't like the record.

I can't talk. I can't tell you, but you have, but you've ever had some moments. You know, I used to have, I had a problem once, you know, but that's because I didn't understand hip-hop. And the way

that will take a song or voice and flip it, you know? And once I understood, I've, you know, really profusely, you know, I apologize because I just didn't understand the sampling, the high-pitching the voice, changing the sound.

Exactly. And he was like, nah, B, that's not me. Because that's, if you wanted me, what is that? I mean, you know, but, you know, just because of my ignorance, so, but we got it straight. Who broke it down? How did you figure it out? Was it one of those things that... My son has to tell me, my son.

Ma, you bugging? Yeah, right. You let me know that, yeah. And the checks are good. And the checks are good. Royalty checks? You've been stamping about everybody, from Kanye to Mary J. Blige. Yeah, if everybody paid up, you guys.

I'm just kidding. But, you know, that's just beautiful that, you know, everybody can share everybody. You can share everybody, everybody. Yeah, many. I love compilations. I love, it makes everything more interesting to me. When it makes, you know, red and yellow, get orange.

That's something. What about you, Ms. Mills? I need sample your stuff. I love it. I have a good time with it, and I do get my checks. Do you ever turn somebody down for a particular reason? Like, nah, you just can't sing. I've never turned anybody down.

Really? No. I like freedom. I think people should be able to be free to express themselves the way they want to. You know, so I've never turned anybody down. Well, who taught you to business, Ms. Mills? Because you've always been vocal about ownership and independence in music. Like a lot of younger artists are starting to do that now, but who taught you that so early on?

I've always been one to sit back and just watch and observe, and like I've been like a sponge. And then people, like my first agent was Buddy Howard, William Morris. And he taught me a lot. And I never wanted to be one of those artists that wound up with no money, a raggedy car, or this. I never wanted to be that. So I've always made sure that I was covered in some way And lived a certain way so that I could live that way for the rest of my life Because it's not how well you live

It's how long you live well You said it, girl I love that How much is the industry change and how much has it stayed the same? I think it's changed a lot The way you go about Putting out music I think it's better for artists to be independent

because I think record companies are nothing but a marketing company, so why should they take half your money or whatever? You could sell 50,000 units and make a lot of money. It comes straight to you. So why should you give that up?

You know, publishing and all of that. I make sure, even if I haven't, I shouldn't say this, but even if I haven't written a song, if someone comes to me and says, I want you to do the song with it, I'm going to get some of the publisher. Because I've made, I know I can sell records and I know I can have hit records. So that's just good business.

But I think they should really just keep it small and do good business. Would you say you made more money now in the last 10 years than you did in your career? Absolutely. Absolutely. Right now. Well, because I'm independent and I'm more verbal about what I want. I know exactly what I want. I know how I want it to be done.

I know what percentages I want. So, yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Is it the same for all of you guys? I was going to ask Ms. LeBelle about how much of the industry has changed and how much of the same is they to say? It's changed a lot. I think women are getting more play these days.

And like Stephanie said, you have to know what you are. And you have to know that who's ever doing your business with you, they are safe, which is hard to find. You know, my son is with me. Yeah, that's forever. Oh, for you. Go ahead. I just want to say that you have to know your worth

and you have to be willing to say no and not chase the money because all money ain't good money. Yeah, because it's real. I mean, you can't go out and say, I'm going to do this and you embarrass yourself or you talked about Bailey for taking that check. Right.

You know, so I know all of these things are done well with me and my son. Like he'll stop it in a minute no matter how much it is. So, you know, I'm blessed. Again, I'm blessed with business. What about you, Ms. Shaka? How is it?

How has the industry changed? What can I expound on that again? No, you know, the big, you know, the big house, you know, the big, you know, the big companies. I was very thrilled. I was thrilled when I found out. that a lot of artists, which some hip-hop artists were, like, in their hotel rooms.

Cutting records. I was like, yes, that's the way it should be. Absolutely. And Prince and I went through a really big fight with, you know, for some years, you know, about how crooked they were. And so find me, I'm in a good place. I own everything. of mine

you have to come through me first I know you guys are doing the tour the black music collective right that's the promoters behind you guys yes so black promoters collect I'm sorry the black promoters collective so I know you got talk just a bit about that

like working with them and putting this tour on and them you know knowing how to cater to you guys as the legends that you guys are they've been treating us like queen as they should know and I don't think we would be out there if they weren't. So they're a very awesome team. And we're happy to be there. Because if we weren't, we wouldn't be doing the second half, which starts September 19th. So we're happy about the things that happened before now. Why you roll your eyes, Ms. Shaka? I didn't. Oh. She's just

looking that way. It's looking crazy. It's too early for me to be talking about it. We'll definitely pick up their tickets. If you have got one one. If there's one, if there's one message you want the audience to take away after seeing all of y'all perform together. What is it? Unity. And that we respect each other. Love.

Peace. We've been talking about this for years. You know, doing so together. This is when this came. I saw here's our chance. You know? I love you so much. I love you, too. I mean, we have real

go back yes they love me like a mother yeah I mean they really do respect my own self and I love it it is beautiful she's the quick as she's the quickest change artist I've ever quick change artist let me tell you I like she doesn't say this one

amazing outfit right and this is still in her show her and her part so I mean she ran out of the stage and came right back on with a totally different outfit I said what is this magic girl walk

she still doesn't tell me your secret no I'm just fast I practice I mean I mean but then but less than three minutes time

she had a totally fricking fricking her outfit I love it and a new wig that's something that's yeah that's something

yeah you're amazing and a new week all right oh my god well ladies and salute to Miss Gladys night too

she's also on that yeah you know and kudos and love to She's like sweet potato pie. This may be the last time we ever see her on another show that she's doing.

So that's why she's not with us today. Yeah. She's because she has other jobs. Yeah. Yeah. We love Gladys. She's amazing. Yeah, she's phenomenal.

I grew up. I grew up on her. Yeah. Well, thank you ladies for joining us the Queens. The Queens, the legends, the icons. And make sure you go out then get all Ms. Patty LaBelle products. You know, Thanksgiving right around. That's sweet potato pie.

New syrup to go with my pancake. Oh, you do? Yeah. It's in Kroger's and somewhere. I don't know. But I do have it. She's out tomorrow. She's an institution.

Charles ain't Texas yet. I'm sure of the Texas coming through. Patty LaBelle, Stephanie Mills, Shaka Khan. Thank you so much. Absolutely. It's the breakfast club. Good morning. I pleasure.

Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The breakfast club. You all finished or y'all's done. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions than answers? Who catfish is a sense? city. Is it even safe to snort human remains? Is that the plot of footloos? I'm comedian Rory Scoville, and I'm here to tell you, Josh Dean and I have a new podcast that

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