The Breakfast Club - INTERVIEW: Ciara Opens Up About Family, Independent Artistry, Russell Wilson, Rihanna, New Music + More

Episode Date: August 22, 2025

Today on The Breakfast Club, Ciara Opens Up About Family, Independent Artistry, Russell Wilson, Rihanna, New Music. Listen For More!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. December 29th, 1975, LaGuardia Airport. The holiday rush, parents hauling luggage, kids gripping their new Christmas toys. Then, everything changed. There's been a bombing at the TWA terminal. Just a chaotic, chaotic scene. In its wake, a new kind of enemy emerged, terrorism. Listen to the new season of Law and Order Criminal Justice System

on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, it's AZ Fudd. You may know me as a gold medalist. You may know me as an NCAA national champion. You may even know me as the People's Princess. Every week on my new podcast, Fud around and find out. I'll be talking to some special guests about pop culture, basketball, and what it's like to be a professional athlete on.

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on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite-sized stories of missing and murdered black women and girls in America. Stories like Erica Hunt. A young mother vanished without a trace after a family gathering

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Listen to the unwanted sorority, new episodes every Thursday, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hold on. Every day I wake up. The breakfast club. You're all finished or y'all done? Morning, everybody. It's DJ. NV.

That's hilarious, Charlemagne the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. La Rosa is here as well. And we got a special guest in the building. Good morning. Sierra! What's up y'all? Before we start, I just got her up.

My daughter sent a message to you, Charlemagne. What was the message? So the other day, my daughters were dancing, and my youngest one sent me a text that said, I met Sierra. She spelled the S-I-E-R-A. And I was like, I don't know who that is. I said, you mean the singer dancer, Sierra?

She was like, yes. I said, go tell them that you know, that my dad knows you. So she went and you were very nice, and she danced for you and everything. Oh, my God. But she came back with a message. She was like, Dad, Sierra said, make sure that you and Charlemagne are very nice to her

when she comes on the show. And then she says, why are you and Charlemagne not nice to her? Oh, God. And I was like, that was so long. So now you got a problem in your household. Let me tell you, your daughter is insane. Both you have two daughters, am I right?

Yeah, two daughters. They are incredibly and gifted. Oh, thank you. Like, I'm telling you. Right now, like I mean this. I know something special when I see it. Oh. Them little girls are special.

And everyone listening, remember what I said to you. Those little, I'm telling you, it's insane. Like my daughter's seeing it was there watching them. And I love that she was seeing a girl that looked like her watching your daughters do what they were doing. And I think they hadn't been doing it for too long. Two years. No, no, no.

If it was Salsin, they're Dominican. They're not in their DNA. No, they were doing gymnastics. And they had two different styles of dancing. They both showed us their shows. They were preparing for some performance. Yeah, for the next season. I haven't seen their dances yet

because I want to see it the first time it... No, no, no. You got something special going on. They get busy. Tell you right now. So it was beautiful to see. You know what? I love seeing it just because when I go on these dance competitions

is very rarely black fathers or black kids dancing, very rarely father. So when they get on stage and they get busy, like they practice all day long, that's all they do. And they get busy. And it's so crazy to see people saying, like, pointing at them, I'm winning because that's that's my best thing the DJ and this is cool but going to see them

dances like special that is so much no I literally went home and told Russ I said babe these girls because we're new to New York so I'm trying to figure out the places for our kids to you know get active and do what they love doing and I'm like that was so powerful to see and especially because again the girls look my daughter look they look like my daughter and she gets to see that so yeah it was dope yeah you should be proud yeah yeah yeah but don't be coming in crazy I mean like Your daughter's sitting on. I'm ready for whatever with you all this morning.

What? Are you dumb? Listen. I'm really asking. I don't remember. That was a good question. Oh, you don't remember. That wasn't really good.

I don't remember. Listen, you know what? When you got your energy in a certain place, you can't remember everything crazy that someone does to your says about you. But I definitely would always remember Straumet along the way in my journey coming up as an artist. But, you know, Charlemagne was being Charlemagne. So. I was on drugs.

That's a line. You were not on damn drugs. You were just ugly back then. And don't try to act like that. You know, if I was not drunk, that was you. I went back down some of the pipeline and we won't say it. But I think you owe her an apology, because you was crazy. Absolutely.

You said you went down Diddy's pipeline and what happened? Wait, what? What did you say? Y'all are crazy. Diddy didn't come up. I didn't say nothing about Diddy's pipeline. Listen, I have, if I did do anything that really offended you and hurt you, hurt you in any way, Sierra, I do apologize.

Concerely, but I really, I'm not even joking when I say, I really don't You don't play the audio? We got some. No, no. I'm just talking about, you're not doing that. Like, you're on that type of time. I only remember one thing.

I really do. You remember one thing. What do? You want to say the one thing? It was what I used to say, Rihanna had the Navy, Beyonce had the Beehive, and Sierra had the cricket. Oh, my. That's the only thing I personally remember.

That's crazy. Well, cricket is a chirping loud, ain't they? They sure are, because they're still here. We're still here. Well, how are you feeling? I'm feeling amazing. I'm feeling. Feeling real blessed, feeling real blessed, feeling excited.

This is release week, so it's kind of, it's crazy. I've been doing it independently, so it's a beast. Like, I'm literally nonstop. I'm like, I'm out here ground like it's in 2000s right now. So it's just, it's crazy. I really feel excited, though. I'm ready to get this project out, and I'm happy to be here. How's your move to New York?

It's amazing. You know, it's different when you come to New York. You know, it's one thing to come as a performer, but to come here, you know, to live. Like, it's a whole different. like feeling like it's a whole different perspective and then also seeing New York through our kids eyes it's really cool you know you know Siena was we were preparing the clothes that we were packing and Siena had this really fancy pink

outfit and she goes I said Cici mama that's a lot going on she's like mom we going to New York you know like she's ready she like what we doing you know but to be able to be here with our family obviously football is the reason why we're here it's exciting you know but it's New York feels more calm from this perspective. I think if you're a visitor, like New York is like bright lights, all this. But now it's like, okay, wait, how are we going to survive?

What are we going to be doing? Like, how are we going to live? Like, hold perspective, but I love it. We love our date nights here, the food. They say you'll never have enough food in a lifetime eating in New York. So I've been loving the restaurant options. There's so many. I didn't realize how much community that has grown,

the communities that are creative have grown here like with playgrounds and stuff there's so many playgrounds but you only see that because now I have kids so I see it differently so I'm just excited

and everything you need it you want to find is right here the beauty supplies like everything is all here so I'm excited I will say it's calm now until the Giants start losing that's why I feel like Russell

deserves better like seriously the Giants are going to be terrible no they're not it's not going to be his part let me tell you right now I love you dearly, but you can not lick in me and tell me that the team my husband's going to be on is going to be terrible. I'm just not going to allow that.

You can feel what you want to feel, though. It's all good. His Cowboys are trash. And I understand, listen, I understand, you know, the history that franchises, they evolve and they go through things, but we're going to speak life over here. I'm going to speak life over with Russ. I think he's going to have a great season. The Giants, though? Nah.

Nah, John's a little bit. Sorry right, you can feel how you feel, but it's going to be great. We're going to be good. Is there a part of you that ever wants him to retire? No. I want for him to do it when he wants to do it, but I think he still has a great story to tell. You know, he's been so fortunate to, you know,

done all that he's done and, you know, defy many odds. And so I think he's still got a lot more amazing football left in him. And so I'm just excited, you know, to support him. But whenever he wants to do that, you know, it's organized chaos in our house, you know, because his world goes, my world goes. So it's like a really, like, crafting of schedules to make everything, like, you know, work and makes sense, but we're having fun right now. And I really love football, too, so I enjoy it.

I enjoy watching him do his thing. You know, sometimes people say, like, you know, Sierra has more headlines for her relationship than her music. Does that bother you, or do you just lean into it? No, I think people aren't entitled to what they feel. I mean, that's up to you and what you want to feel, but I'm not here living. You know, I'm living my life. And I mean, a part of living in front of the world is people,

you're going to be open to people to have opinions. but that's all right. You're entitled to it, you know? So I don't really worry about those things because I am doing a lot. I am a mom. I am a wife. I am an entrepreneur.

I am an artist. So you're going to say many things about me and that's all good. You have been outside. It's been great seeing you in these spaces where you dancing. God grew up to you dancing. And that's the thing.

You have not aged a bit, by the way. Thank you. You have really been like doing your thing when it comes to promoting CC. Right? So let's get into. the album. Yeah.

The name of it is called Cecee. And that's who you are. That's my nickname. It's personal to you, right? So in this album, we're going to be getting an inside look on. Yeah, so it's really more so just my token of appreciation. You know, it's been 21 years since my first album, you know. And so to be sitting here with the same passion and joy that I had as a little girl growing up,

starting off my career and to still be here with opportunity and to still be, you know, fortunate to have some of the best fans in the, world. You know, when people see me in the streets, I say, well, hey, C, see, I be like, hey, girl. But it feels real personal when someone calls you by your nickname. And my fans have done that. And honestly, like I said, doing it independently, I would not be here if it wasn't for my fans. I would not be here if I didn't have the love and support that I've had over the years. And so it's just really a token of appreciation from me to my fans to give them this project, but also, again, time to get back to Cici

because that's what they call me. So it's real personal for me. But it really is, like, like it's an attitude of gratitude. Like it's not easy to, you know, to stand tall and to be still going at this rate and to have the level of support that I've had is like, it's just such a blessing, you know? So you can't listen to the Charlemagne's of the world. You know what I'm saying?

Because if you do, then you won't, you know what I'm saying? You won't level up, right? You know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying? You know, so. But do you like the independent route? Because everything falls on you now. I love it.

It's no longer labels, no longer label pushing the record. But you got to go out there, kiss baby, shake hands. You got to do all that. No, it's amazing. Listen, now, it's a grind. Like I said, I'm ground like it's a 2000. Like, we out, sad. Like, I go from the stage to the classroom to the football field to support Russ to be here this morning with you guys.

And then I hit my son's teacher up to talk about his Spanish exam thing he has to do. Like, it's nonstop. But I love the independent route because, one, there's nothing better than owning your masters, right? There's nothing better than ownership. Like, you think about the math of what it is for us as artists, it is hard to do the traditional route for a long time. To me, it's not sustainable for long-term, you know, purposes. So mathematically, it's definitely much better. But I love that when I have an idea, I can activate on it when I want to, how I want to.

And I may not get it right. I may swing. I may fail, but I like my batting average, you know, being able to do it my way. And I've been very fortunate that over the years, even when I was signed in majors, all my big moments, I was like, this is the moment. Like, I've always been that voice. I've always betted on myself. But now I get to reap my full benefits of when I do take that big risk

and make that big bet. So I like it this way, like I said, it's not easy, but it's a good feeling, though. I feel empowered, like more than ever in my life. And also, too, you know, like where there's sync opportunities, like level up is a song that keeps on giving. It's almost three times platinum. I don't know how many billion streams of that song alone.

I say it's a gift that keeps on giving because I get these unique sync opportunities that just don't stop and I don't have to go through these channels for approval. I don't have to like get someone's like, you know, is this okay? Is it not? It's like, no, I like it. I want to do it. Let's do it. You know, and so it's a great feeling.

And I just want to remind you to I was on drugs and alcohol and retarded and a little bit ugly like just that. I just want to keep stressing that. He might have sipped a little something this morning. You know, it was like a hat. You know, you're covering in a hat. I saw this story that you told in Forbes about a, the CEO from the label that you left to become independent. Yeah.

You didn't really feel, he wasn't really caring for you. You were trying to drop music. Yeah. Has that CEO ever reached out to you now that you, the story's out there and it's the success after leaving the label and been like, I apologize. So I ran into him shortly after Level Up like took off. Yeah, that was a song Level Up. Yeah, it was Level Up. And, you know, I ran into him.

to him shortly after and he was lost for words and it's funny because I almost didn't recognize him like I was so like in my zone I didn't even realize who I was looking at because my period that I met with him was short like he was a new CEO that just come in and he was like you know trying to put the plants together and I had to talk with him share my ideas see if he's going to like it like try to convince him and he literally looked at me like eh and I was like okay and that motivated me so when I saw him his face wasn't the most familiar for me because I was already like We were just, you know, I was where I was at, you know, mentally, but he was lost for words. So, um, that said a lot, you know.

But it was crazy because you were a Sierra at that point. Like, even like that's like such a sign of disrespect. Yeah, you know, that happens though. You know, the music industry is, you know, it's not, it's not cut for the week, you know, and that's what comes with it, right? You're going to be told no. I've been told to know a lot more, a lot of times, you know, I'm not going to say not a lot more than yes. But at one point especially, you know, you hear a lot of nose.

it motivates you. And no matter how successful you are, you're still going to hear someone say no or you can't. Like that's just what comes with that. I don't know one great that I have admired that hasn't been told they can't or hasn't been chopped down by the world or hasn't been said like, you know, like they can't.

I don't know one great that hasn't experienced that. So if you think about it, that's just like the path to success. Like you're going to be told no along the way. You're going to be told you can't. You know, that's why you have game changers. that make things become possible that they said weren't because you believe in yourself. So it all comes back to, to me, simply believing in you. And we all have to find that, like within ourselves.

Like whatever path you're on, you all have to tap into that, no matter how successful or you find your way, we all can relate to that. You feel like you slept on because of that, like, that people say no, or they don't believe right away, or you have to fight through it. Do you feel like they always sleep on CC? You know, I think, listen, what I say there's times, yeah. Yeah, but I don't really worry about that. You know, I just, I like what I've been doing and what I'm doing, and I'm happy with that.

The most important for me, most important thing for me is that when it's all said and done, like, do I have my sanity? Like, do I know who I am? Like, you know, I think sometimes you can be chasing a certain level of success and you may get there. You may not get there, but like, what is your definition of success? What is your definition of wealth? Mine is health. Mine is my joy. Mine is my sanity.

Mine is like, you know, I like living life in the most least chaotic way possible. Like, those are different success metrics for me. So, you know, all I can do is, you know, do my best, you know, and I can always be proud of that, you know. You know, you had to adapt and survive a lot of different areas of music. You had the R&B and Crunkin B and pop records and dance records. What did you learn about yourself each time you have? that to adapt. That I can adapt.

I learned that, you know, listen, I'm built for it. You know, I know I'm walking in my purpose. I think my purpose is greater than music, you know, and I do feel like over time I'm starting to really find it even more, you know, or not fine, but just like learn more like God, why am I here? Like even throughout why not you foundation, like being able to impact so many lives, being able to raise millions of dollars to, you know, save lives. you know beyond that journey with rush like that's a gift like that's a blessing like why did

god give me out of the billions of girls in the world this position right your prayer so you said what no yes i do pray that's right no but you ain't lying do i do y'all about that prayer i'm about praying shall i say um but yeah no um yeah what do you think your biggest reinvention was like the one that like truly shifted how people saw the air my biggest well obviously the beginning was the beginning but I think goodies was such a significant moment for me to step out into the world so boldly, you know, and that song was obviously my first song, and it was number one, you know, for eight weeks long,

which is a blessing. Obviously, the second album was significant for me, too, with evolution, right? What I loved about that moment, I was just telling someone the other day is that I had the song Promise, and I remember at that time, the CEO is like, this is the worst R&B record. What?

Wow. And they always been hating on you. What? Actually, you may be thinking about something, I'll get to it. But I remember him saying that to me, and I'm like, okay, you're going to see. So Polo produced that record, and we actually leaked the record, and the record was a hit record. And that week I came out, it was Eminem, Gwen Stefani, and it was a crazy week. And I had my first number one album.

So I remember that moment and just, like, again, bending on myself. and that was a special moment. If I fast forward to, I think a really special moment was level up for me. Because I, again, was entering my chapter of ownership, but I remember sitting in the office and someone questioned me and they were like, how are you going to stay young? How are you going to stay relevant?

How are you going to do that? And it was almost like they were questioning me like with my life also as a mom, you know, and all these different things. And I was pregnant as ever when I was recording level up with my friend Tehran. And we were writing that record and it was produced by J.R. Rodham.

And I'm just like, man, it's a gift when you can dance, right? The power of dance to me is kind of ageless. So I feel so gift that I can do it. But I knew level that was going to be a game changer. And again, I was betting on myself. And then fast forward to literally within 48 hours, I'd never see anything like it. All these videos were uploaded with people redoing the performance in my video.

I'm like, oh, my gosh. Period. Yeah. And so you fast forward to it's like, at that point almost, I don't know, 18 years or so, no, maybe like 16 years since the beginning for me at that point and to like see that love, like it was all new for me.

It was like, okay, we on to something. Like let's stay the course, you know what I'm saying? So I think that was another big moment for me and I think I can't wait for you guys to hear this project. Well, first of all, I already got two favorite songs, Be right back and Run It Up. Let's go. Girl.

Let's go. Yes. Are we getting any visuals? Are we getting any? I'm excited because in this visual, first of all, I know I'm from an ATL. But, you know, I jumped to my West Coast bag real heavy with this record. It's my song Dancing Me Featuring Tyga. And I had an amazing time on set.

And then I got really, we got blessed, or I could say I got blessed to live out one of my dancing dreams. Like this is, this may sound random to some, but my boy, Russell Westbrook joining. I know. Yes, yes. He is so good. Yeah. Yeah. He's sowsing.

So we got together and, you know, because he always goes viral with his dance. Yeah. The dances and I'm like, babe, I told Russ and babe, can you get the other Russ? You know, so Russ, hit up Russ. We got the group chat going and then he jumped in and he was like just amazing. And so I'm excited for this moment because again, I've always wanted to do this. But I mean, I've never danced the way I'm dancing in this visual. So talk about reinventing.

I really love that I challenge myself to be a little like out of my normal comfort zone. And I mean, we walk in and everything in this video, so I'm excited about that. And then there's a lot of other cool visuals and I have visualizers as they call them that will go along with the project. And then I want to stay focused on the moment of today because it is release day, but the deluxe album,

if anyone is already pre-saved or pre-downloaded the album and purchased this album, you automatically get the deluxe version on the 25th. And there is this song called Lowe, featuring Diamond Platinum's, that I want to play you guys a video before I leave out of here if I can. Yes.

It's rough, but I want to show you. I'll show you guys both videos. Okay. But I'm excited about this. Diamond Platinum's is from Africa, from Tanzania, to be exact. He's supposed to come last week, right? Yeah. Yeah, get up here.

But he is, like, so dope. And the vibes are just like, I'm just so happy. And I do feel like you will feel growth for me as an artist on this project. So, yeah. Just to see the excitement in your face when you talk about your music like you have you ever had a moment right where you're when somebody played something for you but even the making of this album right and you were like eh no yeah no we we have those moments but it's funny because you know how you hear artists say like they have hundreds of records i don't

record tons of records i've never done that i've always been very intentional about the songs that i've written or record for my records so i don't have a lot of leftover records um but if i start a record and I'm not feeling out, just like, eh. Like, nah, you know. And sometimes you do get songs, you're like, that's not for me. So, yes, do I have those moments? But I will say all in all,

I'm lucky that I get to write on a lot of my records. So, you know, if I'm not feeling the vibes, I'm just going to cut it short, you know, but, yeah. Do you preview your music for hubby, for your husband? Oh, yeah. Okay. He knows and sees everything. Like, even when I'm, like, in the process of thinking about stuff,

if you think about Rust that I don't think people know, is, like, he obviously is amazing going on the, field but his creative mind is like insane like he actually has really incredible ideas that he'll throw my way and like he's in it with me which is so fun like rest don't seem like a dancing me don't seem like you did listen i say he dances really nicely in the pocket okay you know what i'm saying but he actually has a nice little groove it was funny because the other night him and all the qbs that he had invited his the fellas to come out the qb room to come out and they were all jamming and like James was like Russ I know you had that in you

like you know but he gets sauce a little bit you know it's cute question and this is not how I feel so don't tell you know when you hear people say he's so funny he over there waiting like just wait no no what you want to ask you people say Russell Wilson is corny what's your honest reaction oh my gosh that I don't I don't have to even reply to that because, you know, like, that, why would I even respond to that? You know what I'm saying? Like, I know what I know, and that's all that matters. But he's one of the, he is the most amazing human being you could know,

the smartest, most intelligent black man that I have ever known, you know. And when you, what you see with him is really who he is, you know. And so it's beautiful, it's different, you know, but I don't, we don't bother him, though. doesn't bother him because I feel like he gets it because he takes care of his wife. And we've had conversations up here as men saying, like, I don't understand why he gets called a simp. Well, I think it depends on who he loves to his wife. It's crazy.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Who's the man saying it. No, no, no, we ain't going to call it on name. She wasn't saying to the name. She wasn't saying it. I'm not going to go down a specific lane because I don't want to, I'm just saying who's the man saying it, right? It's like someone saying a person doesn't love someone,

but have you ever love someone right? have you ever been loved right so sometimes people to me speak out of pocket because they just don't know so for me is versus being mad about it just like god bless them you know like god bless them you know i'm saying like so yeah because it's obviously something that they're lacking it's just you know again everyone's in touch to their opinion but it's like you don't we don't have to live i don't have to live my life to prove anything to anybody right and so i think you know sometimes to people have a perspective just because of how they see life and that just

may be their way but, you know, to me too bad for them if they want to live life a certain way and love people a certain way. Too bad for them. Atlanta never wants to come out of you like one time like the Atlanta just say you'll suck my from the back like that. All right. First of all, that's New York.

In Atlanta, that's a good time. Listen, listen, listen. Oh my gosh, you are silly. Let me tell you, do I want to stuff sometimes absolutely but is it worth it no what Michelle say when they go low we go yeah but is it really worth the breath like you think I think about how many people I've seen come and I seen go and I leave it there so you tell me Sierra got a prayer but she don't got a curse no she don't have to curse somebody out like

she don't got a curse no but will she curse yeah yeah you know pull up on me a certain way I might pop out but no no no no honestly I don't know man I'm I don't know I just or how I'm trying to live my life it doesn't have space for like a negativity it just doesn't like you cannot like if you're trying to go to a certain height and climb certain mountains like that stuff is like down there you know what I'm saying like it's like I I cannot if I choose to entertain those things and I'm taking away time from myself going where I really want to get to so why would I do it

and then also wisdom has showed me like you ain't got to respond people respond for you like just watch those that have things to say about you just watch it like they will respond they'll respond for you they'll do it to themselves you know what I'm saying I was going to say I saw that

a lot people responding for you and taking up for you guys when people were having a debate about Russ being a stepdad or not like early on and people were like, why is that an issue? Like, why is their family unit an issue for you? A lot of people had that conversation. And you stayed quiet the whole time.

You handled that. Yeah, you ain't got to talk about that. You know, there's beauty and love. It all comes back to love. I think people, when they talk about that type of stuff, they forget about what matters the most in the situation. It's the child. Mm-hmm.

Right? It's not about the adult conversation of it all. Is the child being loved, how they should be loved? That's all that matters. Yeah. Right? And I think that, obviously, I know, like, the beauty and a blended family, right? There's no greater feeling than my kids all feeling together and waking up and feeling love the same.

All of them feeling love the same. That is a blessing, you know. So, and I think that every child deserves to feel, you know, that kind of love that I get to see my kids have, you know. And so, you know, I think when things are new to people, it just creates great conversation. But sometimes conversation is great. You know, because sometimes conversation also opens up things for people to... December 29th, 1975, LaGuardia Airport. The holiday rush.

Parents hauling luggage, kids gripping their new Christmas toys. Then, at 6.33 p.m., everything changed. There's been a bombing at the TWA terminal. Apparently, the explosion actually impairs. The injured were being loaded into ambulances, just a chaotic, chaotic, chaotic scene. In its wake, a new kind of enemy emerged, and it was here to stay. Terrorism. Law and Order Criminal Justice System is back.

In season two, we're turning our focus to a threat that hides in plain sight. That's harder to predict and even harder to stop. Listen to the new season of Law and Order Criminal Justice. system on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, it's AZ Fudd. You may know me as a gold medalist. You may know me as an NCAA national champion and recent most outstanding player. You may even know me as a people's princess.

But now, you're also going to know me as your favorite host. Every week on my new podcast, Fud around and find out. I'll give you an inside look at everything happening in my crazy light as I'm trying to balance it all, from my travels across the globe to preparing for another run at the Natty with my Yukon Huskies, to just try to make it to my midterms on time. You'll get the inside scoop on everything. I'll be talking to some special guests about pop culture, basketball, and what it's like to be a professional athlete on and off the court. You'll even get to have some fun with the fud family. So if you follow me on social media or watch me on TV, you may think

you know me. But this show is the only place where you can really fud around and find out. Listen to Fun Around and Find Out, a production of IHart Women's Sports and partnership with unanimous media on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. American history is full of wise people. What women said something like, you know, 99.99% of war is diarrhea and 1% is gory. Those founding fathers were gossipy AF, and they love to cut each other down. I'm Bob Crawford. host of American History Hotline, the show where you send us your questions about American

history, and I find the answers, including the nuggets of wisdom our history has to offer. Hamilton pauses, and then he says, the greatest man that ever lived was Julius Caesar. And Jefferson writes in his diary, this proves that Hamilton is for a dictator based on corruption. My favorite line was what Neil Armstrong said. It would have been harder to fake it than to do it. Listen to American History Hotline on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So what happened at Chappaquittic? Well, it really depends on who you talk to. There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond. And left a woman behind to drown.

There's a famous headline. I think in the New York Daily News, it's Teddy escapes, blonde, drowned. And in a strange way, right, that sort of tells you. The story really became about Ted's political future, Ted's political hopes. Will Ted become president? Chapiquitic is a story of a tragic death and how the Kennedy machine took control. And he's not the only Kennedy to survive a scandal. The Kennedys have lived through disgrace, affairs, violence, you name it. So is there a curse?

Every week, we go behind the headlines and beyond the drama of America's royal family. Listen to United States of Kennedy on the IHeart Radio. app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Really talk about things that they probably wouldn't talk about, right? You know, maybe, like I said, at my time when I was a single mom, I think a lot of women were able to see my journey to be able to be like, you know, just me finding my way as a woman, right? And I thank God that he's blessed me with this special love that I have.

But I think there's, like, again, it goes back to like, why do I have this platform, right? Like, if I can inspire someone in any kind of way, like, that to me is success, right? And so I think oftentimes you don't know what that's like until you're in that position, right? And you're like, oh, this is my life. Like, okay, let me figure this out. But, I mean, it's a gift when, you know, I think woman can know, like, life doesn't stop at a situation for you. Right.

You know, life can evolve and grow how you want it to. And as it relates to families and men, right, there's a difference between boys and men, okay? And to me, men love a certain way. They have a certain standard of how they love and choose to love and do things. And I feel blessed that when I look at my husband, that standard is like his top tier, right? It's like my dad's love, right? That's the truest love I've known from a man. You know, and so to see that is such a blessing.

But I love that my kids, when they look up at each other and, you know, future out him in a moral art, like our baby girl. Like he's the sweetest with her or Siena and just how it when and how they all interact with each other is love. That's all that matters, right? So conversation is good though sometimes. It opens up things and hopefully it helps others. I would like to say that is the most perfect point-a-tale I've ever seen him. Oh, my God.

It's moving like Dr. Strange Cape, no, Dr. Strange Cate moves with him. No. I'm saying like, Dr. Strange, what is that? Dr. Strange, what is that? Mar-Marve. Okay, yeah. It had a life of its own. So it's like certain times when you talk,

it's in its own world. It's moving with your emotion. It's nasty. That means it's nice. It's crazy. It's unbelievable. I want to ask you. You said something earlier that made me think about something.

Do you think black women in entertainment are allowed to evolve gracefully? Or do we only celebrate them when they're young and messy? No, man. Do I think people like when people are sad? Yeah. But I think about like, you know, women that are rocking it. Like, think, you know, people do celebrate. you know I think as a community though you know just outside of artistry I do

think that the more we can support each other the better we will be and I think historically because of what we've been through like historically as a culture as a race you're conditioned to go my my mind my you're conditioned to like you don't want to share so much and what I've noticed in my communities of friends all sometimes that don't look like me, they will call me and be like, hey, Sierra, do you need help with, how can I help you? Right? That's a very common question I get asked, you know, and I feel blessed to have the friends

that I do, and it makes me want to do that for people that look like me because we need that. Like, it's a real thing. Like, think about just like why we always be fighting crazy in our communities. Like, we have more fights, I think, you know, and again, I could be wrong, but just the culture of us like we got we got that rah-rah like it's just in us and i think there's something about history that's predispositioned us that way where it's like how do we evolve like together like how do we eat together right like it's a real thing like my i feel very blessed

to have the friend circles that i do um and like you know it's like jewish community like the way that they like rock with each other is crazy amazing like the latino communities like The way they rock is, like, beautiful. Like, by the way, I'm blexican. Like, I'm learning my Spanish, so I say I'm, like, black and Mexican. I love that. Yeah, yeah, I love that Spanish. My daughter is her black skin, it's her birthday today.

Yeah, yeah. Come on, come on. She don't know. She doesn't know. Oh, she don't know. Okay, it's all right. It's all right. It's all right.

Ola, okay, we can start a Ola. Ola, how is that? Oh, okay. Okay, oh, no, no, no. No, no. Don't play with me. Charlemagne is very loco. More loco.

Yes, si, si, si. Yeah, puta. No. I know that was a curse. I know that was a curse. Everyone is a curse. No, but you think about that love, right? Yeah.

Like, it's a community thing that I think we as a whole have to continue to evolve and grow together with, like, let's lift each other up, like, in our big moments. Like, let's celebrate, like, celebrate each other. Let's not even, like, don't worry about, you know. I think sometimes you can get, like, a little distracted if you don't feel like things and moving at the pace you want them to but it's like celebrate the next one like your time's going to come you know what I'm saying like it's like that perspective that's a real thing and I do think our culture in the community of us we're just kind of we were kind of predispositioned to like bark at each other and fight and like

sometimes it's hard to like celebrate but like the more we can do that together the more we win yeah well the only reason I ask that you said I don't know if it was the CEO or somebody told you how do you stay young and I'm like why do you have to stay young yeah no no it's Yeah, no, it's crazy. But the thing is, you know, you got to grow, you got to evolve, right? And you go with your times. But it was very, honestly, like, I'd never wanted to, like, walk out of a meeting in my career. Wow.

And I felt like, yo, why are you coming and I be like that? And then my thing is, too, is, like, what you asked me earlier is, like, why can't she be a mom, a wife, and still be great at what she does? Like, I'm a working mom. Like, that's just simple. like the everyday working mom in the world my job isn't being an entertainer but i'm a working mom and all of us are trying to figure this shit out okay i don't like cursing but you know when i get passion i got a you know um you know so like that's a real thing is like why y'all why are you questioning me on like you know what i'm saying like why you even coming at me like that and then just

for what it's worth like you know to your point like legacy is what legacy is you can never erase my legacy like never like that's just facts so like you can't take that from me so don't come to me crazy like I'm somebody that I'm not like that's all I felt in that moment I'm like hold up what you're talking to you know what I'm saying like that was kind of crazy to me but it was actually you know she came around to me later you know and she spoke you know kind words and that was a real interesting place to be in but people we do get question I think sometimes as woman you get questioned even more you know so yeah you got a lot of titles I was going to say You got a lot of titles.

You got to add matchmaker to titles. Yes. That's where I was going. Yes. Now, Lauren right here. Oh, Lord, not there. Who does Sierra hook up, though? Who's the matchmaking?

Normandy. Donovan Mitchell. No, okay, wait. Listen. Okay, so wait. Okay, Norms and D.K., that's family to us. Like, D.K. is like a brother to both Russ and I. You guys know Normani is like a sister to me.

So we can say proudly that, you know, we just knew, let's lead these two at the table and let them do their thing. Let's make sure these two. get to the table so then we can let them do that. That was one. Okay, so check. So Coco and Donovan, firstly, shout out to them. And I love Coco. She is so sweet and so funny that girl.

Absolutely. And so talented. But actually, us and Donovan were doing their thing. Like, I got to give the fellas their props because they were talking about, like, Russ knew about Donovan's plans for a while. And, you know, Russ actually has, he has a, what do you call it, like a luxury company that he's building where you help, like, book travel and all kind of stuff, luxury travel company, and called West East Lux.

But anyways, Donovan was talking about his game plan, and then him and Russ linked up, and then, like, it was a beautiful, you know, moment that came together. But again, Donovan led. So we got a shout out Donovan for leading. That was all him wanted to make the best plan for his girl, and the fellas linked up. And Russ's company find the location? Yeah, so they help find a location and everything. And then fast forward to.

Why Donovan ain't tagged the company? No, no, we got it. Oh, I just made that up out. Yes. It was so silly. Oh, my God. So just random. No, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Donovan actually did show love, though. Like, he reposted, you know, the fellas. But anyways, it's not about that, though. It's the moment is, you know, so amazing. And I'm so happy for them. And Coco's my girl. And they call, we FaceTime, and her ring was blinging.

It's awesome. So we're so happy for them. But we do love. we do love matching people though yes like we're really big on like I'm always like if somebody would be like they're single I'm like so okay let me learn a little bit more about you like what you what you hope for yeah and then my brain starts working and then we're just fortunate to have like amazing friends within their souls and we run across a lot of people that we can be like maybe y'all too should like think up so we like doing that kind of stuff

what about tracy ellis ross that should be the next person that y'all hook up because she just Sit down and she has told somebody that she is single. She don't want to be single forever. Yeah. But she said her friend Obama, she had broke up with somebody and she saw Obama. Why you breathe so hard? And she said, she had to walk past Obama. She was like, yeah, well, you know, I broke up with such and such.

She was like, I could have told you that, you know? So I think that's bad because he was a bad friend on that part. But you can help Tracy Ellis Ross. You know what? I love Tracy. I love her. She's amazing, though. Like, she's like, what the heck?

Like, talk about, like, Black Don't Crap. Yep. Like, she's amazing. You know, that's my girl. I'll just leave it at that. That should be an easy one. What about Jim Jones and Chrissy? Y'all didn't hook them up, but you're pushing for the wedding date. Like, where is that?

Y'all, I just got so passionate in the moment. Because I haven't watched, you know, those shows in a while. So I just picked up where I left off. Yeah, they've been off the shows. She'd been in New York and rewatch and reruns and he was like, hey. Well, I just remembered, you know, and then I think Chrissy said something recently.

I did see something that she recently talked about something is I just think she's so dope. Oh, my God, me too. I think she's so beautiful, you know, and I think as a woman, I think for all of us, like, you know, when you get to see someone live their life, like, on the screen and the way that they have, you do feel connected to someone sometimes.

So again, it's just like, you just want love for people. And what I see is, like, you know, where you come from and life doesn't determine how far you go. I've always said this, right? Like, you're not limited by your circumstance. is like, you know, and there's no perfect way to love. So that was my greatest thing is like, yeah, people mess up.

People don't get it right all the time, but love is love. Like, you can't beat that. So when I saw Jim, you know, I just got excited, you know, because I also was like, you know, I just want good things for them. And, you know, and we got to see how they've, like, done things a little bit, you know, in the bits that they've shared with us. So, you know, I'm rooting for, I'm room for the Christy's of the world. I love that.

I want to get back to your music, but I just want to do have one more question. Did somebody hook you and Russ up? Yeah. Who was it? Nobody. A good friend, a good friend. Okay, okay, okay. Yes, yeah.

So you mentioned goodies, right? And we were having this conversation yesterday. I feel like little John is the most unappreciated, underrated producer and cultural figure in hip-hop. So how was it getting with a guy like him to make an R&B smash? Oh, it was amazing. you know at that time period he was just you know entering the scene with his special sound and at that time period it was just really amazing energy like there were a lot of songs that came out of our session songs like Freak League was produced in the same session and so you know little

John was on to something so special and you know it's a southern thing right so when I'm listening to the record and I go this is different like we got to figure this record out like it literally took me a month to complete that record. So I started out with the song. It was called Cookies. There was some song that was like with cookies. It was a Florida song. I forget what the song was,

but the keyword was cookies and it was really popular. And I liked that word. So I was trying to play with it, but I'm like, that's just not like broad enough. Like it's not right. It's not quite cutting through like it needs to like, how we make this thing like expand. And so literally goodies was like the word I landed on like

probably a month later but I would ride in the car and every melody on that hook was so important to me and I would play the track over and over and over and go line by line to make that song

but Lojaun is special you know the era that we released music in you know through his production was so special and the cool thing is it's timeless and Lojaan has evolved

like he's out here killing DJ shows like massive you said what now pushing meditation so good. Yeah, you know, the growth, the level up is real for John. You know, so I just feel blessed that I was able to be a part of such a special moment because that blessed me, you know, in a big way coming out as an artist. Like, it was a big moment for me. What was your intention back

then? My intention was to set the tone. Set the tone, set the base layer foundation. You know, it was just the beginning for me, you know, coming out. So it was like, okay, what am I going to say to the world? How am I going to say it? How are they going to receive it? Like, I was really intentional on all of that. And I just wanted to make sure that when I planted my feet, I said, I'm here. Like, that was really my ultimate goal.

And then I wanted to put on for my city. You know, coming from Atlanta, it's a city that made me. And I just wanted to make my city proud because there was so much talent that came from Atlanta. Like, it's such a special place. And to be able to be put alongside the many amazing art. have come from my city, like, is, that's special, you know. I'm glad you said that, because it does feel like your debut shaped the whole generation of young women in R&B.

Do you feel like today's artists understand the responsibility of influence the same way you did coming in? I don't know, to be honest with you. I think that this social media world makes things feel more light, taken lightly. You know, I think some artists get it. You know, I've been fortunate up to meet some amazing artists that are young and coming up that get it.

And I think some think it just like falls in your lap. It's like if y'all knew what we had to do, like before we had the digital age, like we was hopping on planes to go to London. I would be talking today and I'll be on a plane to London tomorrow. And then we're planning to go to Japan the next week. And then just to move everything. And you still do travel, but the social media world makes everything move faster and makes everything feel like bigger, you know.

So I think it can give you a false perception of where you really are. and I do think that the rise to fame can happen even faster because of social media so sometimes you can lose perspective on like reality you know so I do think that this new age does make things kind of flow like that sometimes and then there's some artists you meet that like they get it you know I actually have a song on the deluxe album with Molly

and Oxlade and Molly is like this really sweet like bright young girl she came to me at the um liberty game here and she wanted to do a tic-tock thing for a song move on to the next if you're done with your ex move on to the next if i did the thing with her but i loved her humility i loved how sweet she was and um you know i think about artists like her like just have such good attitudes and like the hunger um you know so some artists they they do get it you know um shout to lady london as well and my John Blank and my girl, my girl, oh my gosh, Lady London, my other girl. What the heck?

Why am I trying to blank right now? Little one? She's from New York. Why am I trying to blank right now? These are my girls. Lady London and the Little Brook. My gosh, I'm so sorry. I can't even like, this is literally just my mind not working.

My mind was glitching because that's my girls. I know. I just literally had a brain fart. But I got a shout out those girls because like the sweetest soul. like and so humble and hungry you know like so some artists they get it they both don't what do you think R&B needs right now to reclaim like that same cultural dominance it had you know that back in back in that era I think the more we can I don't know but I don't know if it's like originality the more we can like keep I don't

know I think back in that time it was like a comment it was so raw so I'm like you can ever go back and like recreate that um because i was going to say originality but i think there's such like so much great talent that's actually like doing dope fresh things um and i think things happen in seasons too right it's like there's a time where hip hop is dominant and there's a time when like rmb is super dominant and i think the most important thing is like just stay consistent you know like every genre rises in its moment like country is like such a big moment right like that's just like the waves of music but the thing you what we do know

is R&B will never die it will never die right yeah that's what we do know is it true that meeting that we keep talking about you walked out of that meeting with your masters for free yeah I did yeah so they didn't believe oh it was a

it was a total blessing so it was like so you own all your masses not all I'm close to owning all them I have a few more years before I get the whole thing and I'm counting the days okay no but what I was in that that meeting, I said, after I had that meeting, I, you know, I walked through it and I was like, you know what, I feel like I'm about to go into my independence chapter that I was really wanting to do. Like, I really was like, man, I can't wait to be independent because I just really think it's going to be so much better. And it's funny because Russ and I were up late night, three o'clock in the morning, he was researching with me like, who's had labels before, blah, blah, blah, like we were doing a whole thing digging before this meeting happened. And then that meeting happened. Then I was like, shoot, well, I know, I believe this level up break is going to be special. like i got the video i'm like i i know this is something so i'm asked if i can just can you just

give me my masters back and they gave them back to me for free and so that alone let you let you let you know how much they didn't believe you you know like oh you really didn't believe in me like it's crazy but it was like one of the most unfortunate moments happening in one moment and then the most fortunate moment happening right after it all in the same breath because that was the moment that that I was praying for. I talked about praying. I was praying for that moment. And I couldn't have been more ready to do it.

And like I say, it goes back to the fans because what I learned in that moment, I learned the power of my platform. I learned the power of the connection to my fans because literally I was intentional about building my connection with my fans and my platforms. No label told me to do that. And then within one click of a button,

my fans stood up and the world like rocked with me. Yeah. Right? And that bypassed the opinion or decision of any CEO. Do you know what I mean? Like it bypassed that chain, like that whole channel of like flow you had to go through. It was like no. And it was probably like honestly at that time period, one of my, I didn't spend that much money on the visual.

Just to be honest with you, you know, Paris Goble will tell you today's price is not yesterday's price. You know, she really, she won off and she's doing her thing. But I mean, I bet on myself real big, you know, and it's just amazing to see, like, when you do that. Like, you can take a big risk and you, again, you may not get it right, but when you do, like, oh, my gosh. You know what I'm saying? So, no, it was just really, I'm so glad that I did it. Why did you want to be independent? I was just tired of the traditional ways of doing things.

You know, I felt like, like, that process of sitting in meetings and, like, everybody having to say if they like it, if they don't, then, like, are we going to roll with it? are we not? Then if I invest my own money, y'all reap the full benefits. The royalty rates are dumb. Just think about the math, right? Okay, you have, depending on your structure, which I don't have traditional management. I kind of manage myself, but I have an amazing team. Shout to my project manager, Dimples, as well. And my boy, Marcus Grant, but I have a small group of us, and I actually like it. Like, it's way more lean, and I'm still building. What was going to say here the royalties are dumb yeah so you so you go so basically if you have traditional management structure in the beginning it's a big percentage chunk okay then you have an attorney

okay then you may have an agent okay then you have to pay your team then you have to pay your taxes like yes yes think about like what that like that is real yeah and then if you don't have you don't have ownership in your publishing. You don't write, which I did, thankfully, and I do. You don't have ownership in your master's, but you're busting your butt. Like, you're working hard.

Like, I'm talking about for the passion. Like, I learned, I said, I love something that would never love me back how I love it. Music will never give me back what I give to it. Well, no, you love music, but the music business is different. That's what I'm saying, the industry, right? The music will feed me.

but that's correct right the industry like so when you understand that like it's like what are we pumping for like what are we doing that's real so it's like something has to change like the traditional structure has to like adjust which i think labels are going to mark my words it is changing a lot like and you see it like unfortunately there's many jobs that have been lost it's a real thing like ownership to me i encourage any person like to know that listen i'm not going to like knock systems because I don't want to be that kind of person you do what's best for you but the most important thing to me is the deal you have and if you can own your master's like your platform is significant like think about all these artists that have now broke like this is one

thing I do appreciate from the platforms is how it's giving people opportunities to go and be their own self-made millionaires or self-made like artists like no one will be able to find they might not be able to find a teddy swims like you know like that easy you know if he didn't have this platform to like go and like build this whole thing like you know like it's a real thing like there's this actress i was talking to on the today show i was hosting with jena bush and um i hate that i'm forgetting her name but she's in a really big movie right now but because she started being doing her comedy on her instagram so like your ownership is right there like you're starting it just make sure you have the right distribution partner you know what i'm saying like that's

what i would encourage someone to do because these labels are trying to find it and to be truthful with you oftentimes the labels look at you like tell me to plan you like you tell me to play you you got money we got 50 people in this building and y'all trying to tell me to tell you the plan and i'm gonna tell myself to plan under my own rules you know and i'm gonna do it my way like that's i tell them niggas that all the time i literally told somebody from the label last week that's why all of y'all keep getting fired because they don't have a plan for these artists you gotta have a plan and these artists like some of these artists have amazing music and there's there's nobody helping them to push it.

Yeah. What it, what they don't, and then it comes back on you. And then guess what they do? They shelve you. Mm. Like, that's crazy town. Like, that's a crushing place for someone to be in.

You know what I'm saying? Like, and I've had moments where I remember, I actually remember talking to an executive, I just remember this, when I was, it was back when I was signed a jive, and I was a little girl, like, baby girl, but I was, like, so afraid of being shelved.

And I had to ask to be let off. I didn't ask for my master's then, because I wasn't ready for the independent, for the independent chapter, but I just remember like being this young girl. I'm like, okay, I gotta find my way through my emotions and I'm like, we're not seeing eye to eye. I really don't rock with how y'all doing stuff,

but that's not the way to walk into the meeting. And luckily I was able to get off and like, you know, in a good way, you know, so, but yeah. Did you ever feel like the industry was trying to push you out? Because it felt like there was a scratch where it felt like they did just stop betting off the air. No, I wouldn't say the industry was trying to push me out. I think it probably was just more so seasons with people.

you know but not the industry like you know I do feel blessed that you know I can call many people you know for a favor or advice or um for anything like my to me one of the most important things you have to have as an entrepreneur is your relationships and I've always taken pride in my relationships and I feel fortunate to have the Rolodex that I do um and I've I've been also I've great mentors in the industry too you know what I'm saying so I wouldn't say the industry I think it's just it's ebbs and flows like I said I don't know what great like you name one tell me what great that has either sat in this chair has you know had tremendous success has been told you can't do it again right it just comes with it you know so did I have a moment like that for sure you know

and I plan on climbing higher heights so it might happen again but isn't that whack though because you have an executive that might have believed in you so much, you had the success. Yeah. And then for whatever reason, they stopped believing. Oh, he gets fired. Well, the thing was at that time period, it was, yeah, it was the person that signed me was different than the person that came in.

That's how it always is, yeah. So that's also not fun, too, is going through the rotating door, the changing of the guard. Like, it's like, okay, wait, we were about to go at this project. And mind you, I was pregnant when I signed that deal. So I got a shout out, um, uh, my guy. Monty who was the A&R at that time over at the label he said to me I said I was so scared I said babe because we were supposed to sign the deal away earlier and then it

was taking longer and I'm like oh my gosh now we're caring thank I want to do this deal with me you know and then you know Monty was like Sierra don't worry like you go do what you need to do Monty Olson I got his name right there's several Monty Olson he's like you do what you got to do we got you we got you we'll move wherever you need to move. So that was amazing. I had a champion, you know, on my project and the CEO at that time was all connected with him, but then that guy changed. So then I'm like, okay, now I have to sell this idea all over again, you know, to the new person. And like, the new person came in with new energy and it wasn't a line, but it was the best thing that could have happened. Because now I

sit here talking to you. And like, like I said, level up. It's almost three times platinum. It's billions of streams, you know, at this point. And just my projects in general, Like, I'm looking back at my catalog that I proudly own and it's just continuing to grow every day. Like, it's kind of crazy. Like, my song Howie World Chris Brown is almost platinum. Oh, my girl, grow. That is my jam, okay? Thank you.

From the song to the visual, all that. Yeah, it's almost platinum, right? And so, but here's the thing. She didn't say that part. She said she's also one. He was Chris Brown for. Oh, course. But let me tell you, though, I think about this.

When I reflect on everything, I'm not doing anything. I'm not doing anything differently than I was doing when I was signed the difference is just I own my stuff like I was always running around like trying to figure it out

my features I made happen like I made phone calls to my friends you know like and I got a shout out everyone that showed up on this project I got a shout out little baby I got a shout out Frida

I got a shout out Tyga I got a shout out Lotto Rob 49 You said what Rob 49 is on it as well Rob 49 Rob 49 boss man did off

Oh yeah boss man Yeah boss man yeah boss man yeah boss man yeah I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I got to shout him out.

Just everybody, everyone pulled up and showed up for me in such a big way. That's respect to me. Like that's love. And I said Molly and Oxlade, Diamond Platinum's. Man, like, and it's like, and I feel so good because it's like we're doing this. Like I'm actually, I'm living out my dream. Like when you do what you love, you never work a day in your life, right? I feel so blessed.

feel so blessed that I wake up every day doing what I said I want it to do. Like that is the best feeling in the world, right? And so to be doing it my way, listen, who knows how it goes? I'm proud of what's happening. You know what I'm saying? And I know that I'm building and working towards something even greater. And most importantly, I'm having fun. And that lady asked you how you was going to stay young.

Because I ain't got to deal with your ass now. So now look at what you're doing. Like you said. It's crazy. You're not doing anything different than you were doing. The difference is you own it. Yeah. And by the way, you killed Color Purple.

Thank you. Thank you so much. At one point, because you said you was pregnant at one point during that process, did you ever feel like you had to choose between being the era, the superstar, and a wife and mother? No. Ever crossed your mind? No, no, no, no, no. Because that's all a part of me, right?

I had already done it. I had my first one already. So I was on baby number two, you know, so this was like, okay, how are we going to do this? You know, how are we going to make this make sense? Because, like, this is a part of me. Like, these are the things that feel me, that feed my soul. And I think, God, that I have a partner that supports me, you know, like, he'd be like, go do your thing. Like, he'd be like, if I got it, what, if I got to, what, he's just, he's in it with me.

Like, he'll pull up, if he got to pull up, you know, it's like, that, that's. The holiday rush, parents hauling luggage, kids gripping their new Christmas toys. Then, at 6.33 p.m., everything changed. There's been a bombing at the TWA terminal. Apparently the explosion actually impelled metal, glass. The injured were being loaded into ambulances, just a chaotic, chaotic scene. In its wake, a new kind of. of enemy emerged, and it was here to stay. Terrorism.

Law and Order Criminal Justice System is back. In season two, we're turning our focus to a threat that hides in plain sight. That's harder to predict and even harder to stop. Listen to the new season of Law and Order Criminal Justice System on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, it's AZ Fudd. You may know me as a gold medalist. You may know me as an NCAA national champion and recent most outstanding player. You may even know me as the People's Princess.

But now, you're also going to know me as your favorite host. Every week on my new podcast, Fud around and find out, I'll give you an inside look at everything happening in my crazy life as I try to balance it all. From my travels across the globe to preparing for another run at the Natty with my Yukon Huskies to just try to make it to my midterms on time. You'll get the inside scoop on everything. I'll be talking to some special guests about pop culture, basketball, and what it's like to be a professional athlete on and off the court.

You'll even get to have some fun with the fud family. So if you follow me on social media or watch me on TV, you may think you know me. But this show is the only place where you can really fud around and find out. Listen to fud around and find out, a production of IHart Women's Sports and Partnership with Unanimous Media on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, sis, what if I could promise you you never had to listen to a condescending finance bro?

Tell you how to manage your money again. Welcome to Brown Ambition. This is the hard part when you pay down those credit cards. If you haven't gotten to the bottom of why you were racking up credit or turning to credit cards, you may just recreate the same problem a year from now. When you do feel like you are bleeding from these high interest rates, I would start shopping for a debt consolidation loan, starting with your local credit union, shopping around online, looking for some online lenders because they tend to have fewer fees and be more affordable.

Listen, I am not here to judge. It is so expensive in these streets. I 100% can see how in just a few months you can have this much credit card debt when it weighs on you. It's really easy to just like stick your head in the sand. It's nice and dark in the sand. Even if it's scary, it's not going to go away just because you're avoiding it. And in fact, it may get even worse. For more judgment-free money advice, listen to Brown Ambition on the IHeart Radio.

app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. So what happened at Chappaquittic? Well, it really depends on who you talk to. There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond. And left a woman behind to drown. There's a famous headline. I think in the New York Daily News,

it's Teddy escapes, blonde drowns. And in a strange way, right, that sort of tells you. The story really became about Ted's political future, Ted's political hopes. Will Ted become president? Chappaquittic is a story of a tragic death and how the Kennedy machine took control. And he's not the only Kennedy to survive a scandal. The Kennedys have lived through disgrace, affairs, violence, you name it. So is there a curse?

Every week we go behind the headlines and beyond the drama of America's royal family. Listen to United States of Kennedy on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. That's where the fun happens for me. Like, I love that, you know, I can pop out a baby and then we can go, you know, go ahead and get it back together and then do my thing. Like, that's a good feeling. You know what I'm saying?

Like, so I've never had to split the two because that just wouldn't make sense for me where I am right now. You know what I'm saying? Now, what I will say is I'm working towards, you know, I have goals so that I can, you know, really spend, more time with my babies and my family. Like, I don't want to be grind like it's in 2000s every day.

I'm trying to be 60 years old hitting the Matrix. I ain't trying to do that. You know, that ain't even what I'm trying to do. That would be incredible. If you can still hit the majors, like 60 years old, you need to do it. Let me tell you, though. Now, y'all know what they say strong knee games.

Yes. CC most likely going to be able to do it. But you know, I want to choose to do it. And I'm like I have to do it. You know what I'm saying? I'm going to tell you something else. First of all, your snapback game has always been impeccable. Aw.

But for whatever reason, I'm just finding out you're half Mexican, so now I'm even more impressed. Please don't take that for a moment. She's not for real for us. She was joking. No. I'm saying because I love the Latino culture and I got my Spanish.

Oh my gosh. I can't have. I was like, wow. All black women snap back. Yeah, do we know that? But I wanted to ask you know. She thought she was a Mexican from Atlanta. Listen, that mean my Spanish was good.

That mean my Spanish was Fuenga. I did. And I was like, and I was like, But I did want to ask, you know, Yes. With your daughters and your son, would you want your son to play football and would you want your daughters to join this industry?

The industry is always scary for me more than football. Really? Wow. Yeah, because it's not easy, y'all. You said like that? You really scorn then. No, but to be honest with you, I want them to do what they want to do. You know, like our kids are so talented. Future definitely loves playing football.

When just started playing football. started playing football um future can spin that ball like the way like i watch russ teach him how to throw a ball and it's crazy to see like how he done like it's just in him and he can play baseball really well baseball is like his jam like just he got so much swag to him when he's out there on the field um you know sienna does like to follow in mommy's footsteps um i don't know if you guys saw the interview she did with me but she is funny um she's really confident like whatever she do she going to run it you know um she does love music and she was trying to copy my moves too many of them y'all don't want to know because we were we on tour and um i'd never forget i was like

getting ready and mom was like i'm a cc was like mommy you did this move on stage and said what was and she started doing this ride i said oh no no baby you know but she watched me so like proudly and she looks up to me which is so sweet she plays flag too um Well, you know, that's not what she's going to do. But whatever they want to do, I want to support them because, listen, I didn't have much growing up, but one of the greatest blessings that my parents could have ever given me was a chance to do what I wanted to do and to support me. So that's my greatest thing. I always try to remember.

Like, my dad would drive to the studio, be sleeping on the sofa while I'm recording in the studio to drive me back home. That was one of the best gifts that my parents could have ever given me. Because again, we didn't have much, but they gave me support. it so I'm just big on like let me support your dreams as long as there's nothing crazy you know like we ain't doing no heavy metal type stuff you know what I'm saying but I'm supporting my babies I spoke to you a long time ago and you were learning how to cook yeah did you figure it out we should come back to that okay let me tell you okay no no can I cook yes can I CC throw down 100% when I it's been a wow the thing is it's been a while

Okay. So, you know, like Russ, he surprised me, or did I surprise him? It was for a birthday, and we made sushi together. And also, Chef Morimoto taught us how to make sushi on our anniversary trip that he surprised me. So we love doing that kind of stuff. I do like, I can make a mean turkey. I can make good mac and cheese. I can make stuffing.

I can make everything when I'm focused and I have time. I just don't get the time to be in the kitchen like I'd like to. But can I cook? Yes. So do you cook for things? I don't do it most of the time, but have I? Yes. No, I have done it. It's been a while.

Yeah. I made mac and cheese like a few years ago, but I like to kick my feet up at that point because we'd be rolling. You know, it's like that's the time to debrief and just like not have to worry about nothing, but just eat and go back for the leftovers. Now, last question for me, do you want more children? Like, do you have like a quota? Like, did you have a quota?

You know what you're stopping at a certain point? Are y'all stopping at any point? If y'all asked Russ, we ain't going to stop. Period. I'm like, that's just disrespectful, you know? Literally after I gave birth to Amora, he's like, so, you know, on the next one, you know, but I'm like, what we're talking about, you know? No, but I think we probably will have one more, God willing. You know, God willing.

I think we can get there. You know, the problem I say is Russ and are kind of fertile myrtle together. So it's like, and then when he look at me, my belly starts to grow. What is it? What is it? No, he said Mexican. They do have large families. Yes.

Blexican, typically. But yeah, no, I think we'll probably get to one more. But again, God willing, you know, I don't know when, but I'm down. I'm down for sure. How becoming a mother changed the way you define success and happiness? Oh, my gosh. It's huge. Being a mom, like, it puts the P and purpose for me.

It's like, I feel like I'm really doing something, you know? Like when I leave you guys today, I'm going to go back and be with my babies for a little bit. And then I'll go do something else this evening for work. But it's the best. Like, I feel like I'm really living. Like, it's like I'm really pumping for something, like for our family. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, it's different.

And I'll be honest with you guys. I'm so glad that I committed to living. And what I mean by that is that I think oftentimes in our world, you're constantly chasing success that you forget to live and I think that's how unfortunately a lot of people that I've admired kind of lose it

because you're so focused on that that you forget the life part of it and again it goes back to like back in the earlier days when I first came out if you had a child like you all of a sudden old or you're not as hot anymore

and it's like wait we can't live life like that because then we're not living And like, I remember one of my girls telling me that was two of my girls in the same conversation. They were both really successful. And they were saying, you know, man, I wish I would just kept going with half of my babies. They have, like, one of them had two and one had one. And I remember when they said that to me, I'm like, I would never forget it. And I'm like, I'm going because I know what they're saying.

Like, because once time passes us women by, we can't go back. So, like, we got to live. Like, you got to make sure to me on the path to success. and when you're trying to achieve you know big things like they focus on it but you can't forget to live and the Bible it says

what good is it for a man to gain the world and lose a soul that's a real thing you know like I want to know who I am when it's all said and done and I want to live and I love being a mama is the best feeling in the world

I got the mommy choir popping off mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy you know but I wouldn't have it in the other way and literally more kids more issues more tissues, more problems. Because I swear to you'll be like, we all on the right track,

then either someone hit someone or someone is sick, then the next one is sick. And the whole house is sick. And then it's like, but wait, and then you have the layers of everything. Like we're about to do school shopping. I like taking them all on their little trips. But you got that, and then they ain't cheap.

Everything costs. I'm like, it's crazy. Wait until they get a little older. Wait until you get low. No, I already know. I already know. I got six, Charlotte got four, she got two. That's crazy.

Because your baby girl that interviewed you. Oh, she's not no joke. Oh, she is coming. I've been seeing her on Instagram. She knows what she wants and all of that. She is really confident. And she don't take no mess, but, you know, I wouldn't have it any other way. Like, I love that chaos.

Like, I, that honestly having my family was a part of my dream in my life. And I feel like I'm living out my dream. You know, being this little girl from Decatur, Georgia, you know, envisioning my life as a woman, you know, like, I just feel so blessed that I, you know, I have what I want it in my life, you know, with my family and my babies. And I did say years ago in an interview, I wanted five kids. So it's crazy, but I don't know why, but I'm only child. So I think, yeah, my desire was like, I just always wanted siblings. And so I always wanted that, like, you know, love. And, yeah.

You know, people see you and Russell, and they see our relationship as goals. Do you feel celebrated for that or boxed in by, like, that narrative? I think that's so sweet. You know, but listen, we're not perfect. I do want to say that. We're not perfect. But I think it's a sweet thing, you know, I think people are just showing love to love. For sure.

You know, and I think it's awesome. I think it's inspiring. It feels good, you know, to, you know, run into girls or guys or couples. and we have couple conversations like I like that you know it's like we all kind of feed each other without knowing it sometimes so I think it's a sweet thing you know like I say we're not perfect you know we're just like everybody else trying to figure out life and like we don't we don't always get everything right but we do have each other and it's just a it's a blessing and so I think it's sweet what about your old

friend group that's no longer married like you know like like you know I love La La that's family oh my girl Kim like they're not married anymore you you still mix with them like that of course what you mean i still mixed with them crazy as how that's what is we talking about i guess he means because the conversation is probably different i'm not married damn damn would you just say to her he said first of all they're not married i didn't not say that that's what you're talking to her like thank you thank you what that got to do with i don't know i want a drug he just want to come about a hot boy He'd be waiting to go,

listen, I've got to shout my girls out because they're some boss. Absolutely. You know what I'm saying? Bosses. Absolutely. And everybody has their journey, right? Like, that's what friends are for.

Like, I've had my journey. And I thank God for my friend's circle that has been there for me. And like I say, you're not going to always get it right, but it's a blessing when you have boss, bad, A-S-S, you know, intelligent no nonsense strong girls and all of my girls you know are amazing you know all my girls Kelly Vanessa uh you know rena I just feel blessed to know the girls that I know in my life and

obviously la la you know she's amazing you know and she's the sweetest heart like the sweetest heart like she's like the life for the party you know and so you know I'm glad she was there for me in my journey in my life when she was because that that's huge you know to have a strong support circle and system what was it like for you being there for them during their time when they were because it's so public with Kim divorce and Kanye and Lala divorce and like what was that type of support like from you as a friend in return listen I I think um I think that you know friendship is friendship you can always be there for your friends no matter what you know um yeah and just like any friendship, you know.

You never grab your point of telling and say, Can't relate. No, no, no. No. No, no. Because we've all been through some things. You know what I'm saying? Like, we've all been through stuff, you know?

Like, and nobody's perfect. And we don't always get it right. Like, that's the thing. It's like, that's life. Like, all of us in this room do not get it right all the time. None of us. Like, so it's like, we all trying to figure this thing out. I just got it wrong yesterday.

I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, what happened? I know, right? But it's sorry, sorry. Sorry. You were talking about your legacy earlier and it made me think I was at the BET Awards and you weren't a part of the 106 and part tribute. We all thought you were going to be,

especially when like you, when like you, by the way, I didn't need you on like you. I wanted Sierra to have it on. I said that on air. I said, I did not need Sierra would like you. I wanted Sierra, Sierra. So two questions. Listen, Sean and I do think that would have been amazing

to you know be able to have my own set but yes no listen the show is amazing first of all i think it was one of the best shows that we've ever seen in beat t show history when you all say that it was great yeah and i think programming just happened how programming happened and nobody even reached that you were so big during that way six and what that would have been crazy from one two step hold up loren from one two step to lose control to oh what ludicrous uh all the way back to goodies we could have had a whole thing wasn't like he wasn't like he wasn't a Listen, y'all need to go talk to BET. Exactly.

That's what need to happen. That's what need to happen. And didn't go debut on one of those songs? Yeah. No, that was actually my first, my very first live performance. Live performance, that's what it was. Live, yeah. First live television performance.

And it's funny because I was, I mean, the world was going so fast. Like, no lie, I was like, oh my gosh, like, and mind you, before that, I hadn't done a lot of performances. So it was like I was 16 years old when I signed my dough with Aresta, And I had showcases, but my story was kind of raw. Like, I wasn't trained to do what I did. I just had a gift to do it. And I knew I had a gift to do it.

So I've been, like, literally learning in front of the world. Like, a lot of my journey and my performances have happened, like, it's like being thrown into the fire. Now, back in the days, they had artists of element. They don't have that anymore, you know. But, yeah, I remember, like, the special days of pulling up, you know, here in New York and the fandom. Like, I wish we had that kind of stuff,

but we don't have that anymore. It was such a mis-moment. How the hell they didn't reach out to Sierra? That's crazy. We said that the day after, but I didn't know that they didn't actually. She came up right after. People were so excited to see you. We just all knew at some point, it was, we were like, even there backstage, I remember

people being like, it ended and people were like, wait, Sierra didn't go on stage. We didn't even ask. Y'all are so funny. Y'all get coming in a hat. We don't be playing about that type of stuff, what you see ever. Listen, I do like Charlemagne's idea. I do think that it would have been amazing to be. be able to rock up there with the full on set, you know, we were having conversations about

things like that for sure. But again, I got a shout at the team at BET because they really are amazing, you know, Jesse Collins and everyone. I don't want to ever speak, you know, out of pocket for them, but they're amazing. And, you know, BET is a necessary platform, you know, because I know that BET is like, you know, like all networks, it's a journey. So I got to shout them out. But Yeah, I think it would have been amazing to definitely have, you know, to be able to rock, rock the stage in full. But it was a great show. It was a fantastic show.

And this is my last question. I'm out of your business. What? I want to know what the conversation was with you and Rihanna when y'all patched it up. Oh, so sweet. What did that look like in 2025? I don't say patch it up. Like, it wasn't like a patch up conversation.

But, you know, we actually saw each her at the Met Gallo. And obviously she shared her bump, her new bump with the world. I think she just had her baby. Am I right? Yeah. Yeah, congratulations to Rewee because, listen, I think it's such a beautiful thing when we get to live our lives, right? And especially as mom, like, live your life. But when we saw each other, it was so sweet.

It was her ASAP, me and Russ, and we were all just chatting it up and, you know, talking about kids and mo kids. And just like normal, you know, just like girls would do. So that was really sweet, you know, it was the best energy, you know. and CeC got love for Ri-Rei. So you didn't even bring up the old stuff. You don't even bring up enough. No, because we're like, it's like babies. Yeah, who you are now.

Yeah, she sent me this really sweet message like a while ago before we saw each other and she was like saying, I'm so proud of you, you know? And I thought that was so, so sweet, you know, for her to say that. And I really respect her. Like, I admire what she's doing and what she's done. Like I remember us meeting each other for the first time, you know,

as babies. I started a little before her, but to see how she's, like, you know, like, leveled up and, like, built her empire. Like, to do that in our industry is not easy. And she's, you know, putting on for Barbados, as she would say, in such a big way. And I think us women were just like, you know, we're women, you know, and like, boom, like, you know, so it's all that kind of energy. Yeah. But that thumb thugging on Twitter used to be fun to watch me. Oh, my gosh.

I remember when I got punched in the back of the head and Sierra had a field day. How those tweets? You remember that? You don't remember that because I was laughing because I'm like, you know what? I deserve it. And she was like, I bet you're them Adidas. You ain't using Meditas Dad Day because I don't

Adidas that day. Listen, you got to get Straumet with something, because this man right here. Was you still getting high and ugly back then? Yeah, I was definitely getting high back then. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. No, listen, you got to, listen,

the Charlemains of the world, I tell you, you don't forget them that's what I do though you don't forget them and you'd be like just let some have something not let some but if something have you be ready to be like hey uh-huh wouldn't crickets now yeah wooden crickets and they ain't saying nothing what is my life question if you script away all the titles you know superstar wife mom who is Sierra at her core today at my core oh my gosh You said, take away, mom, wife, just you, person. She's a bouse.

Mm. I love that. Yeah, no, she a bouse. No, I mean, yeah, she is a woman, I say a woman of ambition on a mission. That's always my jam. She's just trying to figure it all out, you know, just trying to grind every day, figure it out. Um, she's a woman. I'm a woman that loves to serve.

I love to give and I love to live. Mm-hmm. Let's get into a joint off the album. What you want to hear? Let's go. Okay, we're going to play this song that I'm excited about. I told you all, the video is out today. And this is my song, Dance with Me, feature my boy Tiger.

Hey. And check it out right now. All right. What else you want to hear? Let's play a few. Let's play a few. There we go. No, tell us what you want.

Be right back and run it up. I love Be right. I love both of those. So wait, can we get to those two today? Absolutely, all right. Ladies and gentlemen, next time you see my daughter tell her we was nice. Oh my gosh, I'm gonna tell her. Because she was on me.

She's so cute. She said, I think you know my dad. And I said, DJ Ambien, I was like, yeah, I know your dad. I was like, oh my gosh. And they showed out, I was like, that might not be your dad. I definitely can't dance. I definitely can't. I definitely can't.

No, I'm messing with him. I'm messing with you. They look black. That can be Ambik. Shut up, man. This is the new album, Cici, out today. The Sierra, it's the breakfast club. Good morning.

Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The breakfast club. You're all finished or y'all done? December 29th, 1975, LaGuardia Airport. The holiday rush, parents hauling luggage, kids gripping their new Christmas toys. Then, everything changed. There's been a bombing at the team.

TWA terminal, just a chaotic, chaotic scene. In its wake, a new kind of enemy emerged, terrorism. Listen to the new season of Law and Order Criminal Justice System on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, it's AZ Fudd. You may know me as a gold medalist. You may know me as an NCAA national champion. You may even know me as the People's Princess.

Every week on my new podcast, Futter Around and Find Out, I'll be talking to some special guests about pop culture, basketball, and what it's like to be a professional athlete on and off the court. Listen to Fud Around and Find Out, a production of IHart Women's Sports and partnership with unanimous media on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Hunter, host of Hunting for Answers on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite-sized stories of missing and murdered black women

and girls in America. Stories like Erica Hunt. A young mother vanished without a trace after a family gathering on 4th of July weekend, 2016. No goodbyes, no clues, just gone. Listen to hunting for answers every weekday on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. Every case that is a cold case that has DNA, right now in a backlog will be identified in our lifetime. On the new podcast, America's Crime Lab, every case has a story to tell, and the DNA holds the truth. He never thought he was going to get caught, and I just looked at my computer screen. I was just like, ah, gotcha. This technology's already solving so many cases. Listen to America's Crime Lab on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is an IHeart podcast. Thank you.