The Breakfast Club - INTERVIEW: Stephanie Mills On 'Hadestown' Show, Ken Page, Frankie Beverly, Sergio Hudson Connection + More

Episode Date: October 2, 2024

The Breakfast Club Sits Down With Stephanie Mills To Discuss 'Hadestown' Show, Ken Page, Frankie Beverly, And Sergio Hudson Connection. Listen For More!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing.

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charlamagne the guy we are the breakfast club just as on maternity leave so we have lauren larosa filling in and we got a special guest in the building the icon that just made dion cole stutter and shake he was saying all types of stuff ladies and gentlemen what in stephanie mills welcome he said i need to learn a lesson from you. He said I need to take a lesson from you on how to, you know. Be sexy. I already told her that's going to cut. She 32.

So she got a long way to go before she get to this level of sexy. I'm 67. You see what I'm saying? Wow. Yeah. See? I'm 67. Gorgeous.

Thank you. Dion got this thing in a special call. He calls them vintage, vintage ladies. Vintage, yeah. He likes vintage. Dion and I are friends, but I. He calls them vintage, vintage ladies. Yeah, he likes vintage. Dion and I are friends, but I wanted to really, like, jam him up. Okay. No, you did.

You did. He was stuttering the whole time after you left. The whole time after you left. When do you get to that level of confidence, you know, where you just know you feel good inside and outside? In your 60s, all over. Okay. I think in my 60s, I really was like I didn't care what anybody thought.

I wanted to do what I wanted to do on my own terms. Like 55, I'd say, when I turned 55, I was like, I'm doing what I want to do. I don't care what anybody thinks. And it really does get greater later, right? I think so. I really do. I mean, at 67, I'm so confident.

I feel like I could do anything. You know, so I'm good. I'm good. Absolutely. Is Stephanie Mills still dating? Are you still outside dating? I'm not dating. No?

Well, no, I'm not dating. And why not? Because I'm a very independent woman, and I don't like knuckleheads. And men have a lot of game with them. And you know Shalimar. No. I ain't going to play with no game.

Oh, yeah, you ain't going to play. I thought you said I play games. No, no, no, no. I said you know Shalimar because you know my background and who I'm who. So I'm not going to play any games. And if they don't want to come right and be honest in a relationship, I think even if they have another woman or whatever, another situation,

I think they should be honest, and most men are not. Even at this age? I was going to say that too. Because OGs like young girls. They don't like girls like me. They don't like older women like me. They think I'm too old. So theys like young girls. They don't like girls like me. They don't like older women like me. They think I'm too old. So they like them young girls.

And most men like high yellow women. They don't like dark women. Really? How did you, or like now, if you were to choose a date, like it's so high profile, like how would you even handle that? Because it's a different time of like, you know, social media. People want to be in the press. I think I'd want a businessman.

Like a businessman. But then they're knuckleheads too. So I don't know. Jesus. It's not like it used to be. Like, Charlemagne's married. I'd date Charlemagne. My baby.

He going to talk about that every day for the next three, five. If he wasn't married, I would date Charlemagne. I love Miss Mills. Y'all know that. No, no. No, he loves you. No, no, no. That's what I'm date Sean. I love Miss Mills. Y'all know that. No, no. No, he loves you. No, no, no. That's what I'm saying.

He was a little jealous. When you came in here and did that little thing to Deon Cole, he was jealous. Were you jealous, baby? Tell the truth. A little bit. Hey, hey, hey, slow down. Slow down. But the crazy part is everything you said men don't like is what I like.

I like older women with melanin. Right. I just, you know, the men that I would date are married. You know, so they're taken. And I'm really a bore. I'm a person that

likes to stay at home and just do simple things. I'm not one to go to the parties and all of that. I'm not her. You've been in the industry longer than most of these people have been alive. I have. 50 years. Longer.

Longer? Because that was the Wiz. 50 years ago, I did the Wiz. My first Broadway show, I was 11. Wow. So I've been in the business my entire life. This is all I know. Wow.

Is it true you didn't even want to audition? Oh, I didn't. I didn't because I had gone up for a lot of things, and I didn't get them. So my mother made, I actually went to the Wiz auditioning crying. My mother made me, because I didn't think I was going to get it.

And your mom, what was her motive? It was just like, I know you can do this, or she just wanted you. She felt like I could do it. My mother is definitely my Shiro. She's not here any longer, but I always feel her spirit. But she was definitely one.

I'm the spitting image of my mother. You know, in every way. Yeah. What made you want to get back on the Broadway stage? How do you pronounce it? Hadestown? Hadestown. They came for me. I was doing my tour and they said,

we're really interested in you coming back to Broadway. And I wanted to do something different. And I said, I don't know what Hadestown is. Let me go and see the show. And I went to see the show. I fell in love with the music. The cast is wonderful, but eight shows a week is very hard. Wow.

I was going to say that. How are you dealing with that? That's a lot. And I'm on stage the entire time. You know, Andre DeShields, my original Wiz, won a Tony for this role. So when we went to see the new opening of The Wiz, he was there and I was like, he was like, you should do this.

And then when I saw him last night, because I did the Black Theater Gala last night, which was wonderful. It was just a wonderful experience. I asked him, I said, why didn't you tell me how hard this show was? Because I'm on my feet. They're two and a half hours. Did you want to give up at some point?

I'm not a quitter. Okay. But I must say, this is the hardest thing I've ever done. Doing Hadestown is the hardest thing I've ever done because it's a lot of script. I have a lot of words. So it was challenging. And once once i got it i got it and still sometimes i'll mess up a little bit but the cast just keep going on and we go to the next thing but now i really really got it so eight shows a week so

what is your daily routine like you just you got to be in bed until showtime because you got to be tired you know i'm tired honey You ain't got time to date. I don't have time for social life. Not now. I don't have time to date. And if I was dating, I would need someone very, very understanding. You know what I'm saying? They would have to understand my schedule and what I do,

and then I still have my son and all of that. But I sleep. I sleep and I soak my feet. Have some soap? Yes. Warm water. You know, baby. I'd run I soak my feet yes warm water you know baby I run your basin for you I know you would you said run you what basin basin oh come on young boy and he'd give me a massage you wouldn't yes ma'am massage my feet that's right that's what I would need yep and you play mrs hermes mrs hermes mrs. Yes. So what's that role about? I got to come watch it. It's Greek mythology. Hades is the devil.

And there's Persephone. I have a wonderful cast. Philip, what's Philip's last name? Oh, but Philip, YOLO, Maya, Jordan. It's a wonderful cast. But I'm the storyteller. I'm telling the entire story about what's getting ready to happen and what's going on. So I'm the storyteller.

Now, you know you're a spiritual person, Ms. Mills. Did you feel like, okay, I don't know if I want to do this role because of Hades and Satan and all that stuff? I felt that way. And I didn't know how Pops would feel about it. But I felt that way. But I said, this is acting, and it's challenging, so I'm going to do it. Did you ask the minister? No, I didn't ask him.

Okay, okay, okay. Because, you know, sometimes you know how you don't want to ask your father. What do you think, you know, daughter? But I think he would love it. I think he would like it for what it is. Because, you know, he always appreci appreciates creativity and what you do. But I really am enjoying it. I plan to come back to do my own show in a theatrical way.

My own concert show in a theatrical way. So make your songs like a script? Yes. Make my songs like a script and do a whole thing, like probably next year. And tell your story from start to finish? Yes. Wow. Yes.

Wow. Yes, yes. Not everything, but just tell the story of how I survived. Because I feel so grateful to survive with so many of my... One of my friends just passed last night, Ken Page, who was the lion in The Wiz. Oh, my God. And I just saw him. That was last night, Kim Page, who was the lion. The lion, yeah. In the Wiz. Oh my God. And I just saw him.

That was last night? Yes. I just saw him, Charlamagne. I like calling you while you're filming, but I'm not. You can call him Leonard.

You can call him Leonard. It's okay. Leonard. Leonard. I don't know. But I just saw him like two and a half weeks ago. And I always say

you don't know when the last time you're going to see somebody. So you have to love on people when you see them. Absolutely. How does it feel when you see your peers passing away like campaign? It's devastating.

You know, Hinton Battle passed away, who was my scarecrow. It's devastating because I'm like, oh, my God, am I next? You know, because I'm getting of age. And I always tell my niece, you know, you got to getting of age, and I always tell my niece, you know, you got to take care of things when I'm gone. And I know we got to cross that path. So I really just try to enjoy myself, love on people, be kind to people, and get those people told that get smart with me.

Is that why you started thinking about putting the musical of your life together was because of those thoughts and seeing your friends? Yes, doing a concert. And I wanted to come back to Broadway, but I wanted to do it. Hades is an eight-time Tony-winning show. So it was coming back to a Broadway show that had been on Broadway for five years.

The Wiz was on Broadway for five years, and The Wiz won seven Tonys back when they were on. So I was happy to come back and tour a hit show. How is the climate on Broadway now for black actors and black performers? Better? No. I don't think so. I don't think.

Has it ever been good, though? I think 50 years ago it was better. 50? I think, yeah. When Wiz was on Broadway, I think it was better. I think Broadway is ran like a corporation now. It's more about the show. It's not about individuals.

They don't want stars. They just want people to enjoy the show. So no, it's not better. I was going to ask, do people respect Broadway actors and actresses like they should? I don't feel like they get the respect or the kudos that those actors and actresses do because you guys do a lot of shows in a short period of time and unlike movies or sitcoms or even going on tour this is a totally different thing i don't think that we do get the respect i don't think that

broadway actors get the respect not from their peers and not from the producers of broadway shows i don't think they respect us the way they should. I don't. How do black performers get that respect? I don't know if we'll ever get it. I think they see us in a different light. I think that if, this is the thing, I was doing an interview a couple of years ago, maybe two or three years ago,

and one of the girls said, well, we just have to keep trying. I'm like, I'm 60 something years old. I've been on Broadway since I was 11. How much longer do we have to try? How much longer do we have to change? You know what I'm saying? So for me, asking me who's been on Broadway, why hasn't it changed? I think in 2024, it's worse than it's ever been. Wow. Wow. Wow.

Hard to hear. Wow. How did you feel when you heard about the death of Frankie Beverly and Tito Jackson? Well, you know the Jacksons are like my family. Absolutely. I just, you know, Tito was just on stage, what? A day or so ago before that, two days ago? It's very, very hard because I'm still here, and it's very hard to see my peers

because I've done shows with Frankie Beverly, and he was so kind to me, and he's such a, Frankie wasn't a pop act. He was an icon. He had a cult following. No matter which show he did, it sold out. But he wasn't on pop radio. You know what I'm saying? So he really set a standard of you don't really need all of that.

Just be who you are. Do your show. He was amazing. And it's sad. It's sad to me. still think about whitney i was talking about whitney uh this morning and michael i was and prince it's like they should still be here they should not be dead do you think before i let go was the biggest song in our culture yes yes i was having an argument with Charlamagne I was like I don't think there's anything bigger that

goes past generations no no and I still don't think he got the credit and the and the respect that he needed

I think the song was bigger than him the song was bigger do you think so I don't know I don't think the song was bigger than him for certain people

for certain generations most people don't even know what he looks like but they knew that song I knew who he was I didn't and when I said I knew the song was bigger than that. For certain people, for certain generations. Most people don't even know what he looks like. But they knew that song. Yeah, I didn't know. I knew who he was. I didn't. And when I said I knew who he was, like, I knew his name.

I knew the song. But I didn't know what he looked like. Well, before I did Versus, a lot of people didn't know those songs I sang. That is true. You know? I think it's because when you're younger, you hear the music that your parents are playing, but you don't necessarily see the artist. Right.

Like, you got played in my house by my mom all the time. Really? What? Yes. But I didn't know until I started working in entertainment

and then I started digging. I'm like, oh, so this is who that person is. Right. Because now I'm an oldie. No, no, no, no, no. There was no social media

back then. You got to think about it. Right. The only reason I knew who you were was because I was a DJ and when I'm blending the records,

your face is on the covers. Right. But only reason I knew who you were was because I was a DJ and when I'm blending the records, your face is on the covers. Right. But if you're not a DJ and you're listening to the music, you know that I've been up, but you don't know what the person looks like. Right. When social media comes around now,

you can actually see what your favorite artist looks like. That's true. Mine came from looking at albums. You know what I'm saying? It was either the jukebox and my dad's little sugar shack or just somebody would have the album

and y'all would be on the front of the album. But, Shalaman, you've always shown me love. Absolutely. Always, from day one. How do you not show Stephanie Mills love? Who don't show Stephanie Mills love? My godson, he told me, don't you go in the breakfast club talking.

Don't start no shit this time. That's what he said. Don't start no shit this time. That's what he said. Don't start no shit this time. That's what he said? Sergio Hudson. That's what he said. Mother, don't you go in there. You supporting the vice president too?

I'm supporting all the way. Why? Because I think we need a change. I think women are powerful. I think she's intelligent. I think she will make a difference in this time. We had a woman in there. I

voted for Hillary Clinton. So did I. So, you know, I want Kamala to get in there because if we don't I'm moving to another country. Really? I mean, I'm getting out of here. I don't know if I could take four years. Yeah. You know, that's hard. I mean, they'll have us picking cotton.

Damn. I really do think that. They will take us back. What's that? Project 25. I think I've been in stores. I'm just watching Sergio to see if he's getting nervous yet.

He's sitting up now. He's sitting up. He's like, okay, here she go. Here she go. I'm going watching Sergio to see if he getting nervous yet. He's sitting up now. He's sitting up. He's like, okay, here she go. Here she go. I'm going to be good. Go ahead, ma. Go ahead, ma. But I think that there's so much, like, I was just in the store yesterday,

and people were reaching. I know I'm little, okay, but people were reaching all over me and not saying excuse me, and I had to tell somebody, excuse me would be nice. Excuse me. And I had to tell somebody, excuse me, would be nice. Excuse me. I'm not invisible. I'm standing here, you know, so there's a lot of that going on and you really have to like back people up. I'm not the kind of person that's, I'm not passive at all. At all. And I've never been good at brown nosing. I will be professional. I will do my job. But I'm not going to kiss your ass.

I feel like that's probably kept you out of trouble in this industry, though. You think so? Yeah, because I think a lot of times the situations that people end up in is because they're too busy wanting to brown nose these people who may take advantage of them. That is true. And the bottom line is no matter how much you brown nose, you're never their friend. That's right. You're always entertainment.

I don't care who you are. That's just a fact. I've been to enough parties to see that that's what we are when they invite us to parties. We are the entertainment, and they want to tell their friends, oh, look, I can have so-and-so at my party. Look, so-and-so is here. That's all you are.

How were the industry parties back then? Studio 54 was wild. You know, Michael and I went to Studio 54 a lot together. Studio 54 was wild. Can you imagine Michael Jackson and Stephanie Mills walking up in a club? Did y'all have security? Yeah.

But at Studio 54 you really didn't need security? Because Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder. Everybody was somebody. Everybody was 54, you really didn't need security. Because, I mean, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder. Everybody was somebody. Everybody was somebody. So you didn't need security. But, you know, I've been to parties, but I always knew when to leave. But I never went to risque parties.

I never went to parties that I thought, oh, I don't know what this party's about. You ain't going to freak offs. Right. Even though I was at one party that was a freak off, and somebody invited me into the bathroom and I declined. But, you know, you just have to know when to say no. But if you want to be in it, you're going to do everything. And Washington said the same thing you said.

He said you have to know when to leave. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia Keys opens up about conquering doubt, learning to trust herself and leaning into her dreams. I think a lot of times we are built to doubt the possibilities for ourselves, for self-preservation and protection. It was literally that step by step. And so I discovered that that is how we get where we're going. This increment of small, determined moments. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love.

I forgive myself. It's okay. Like grace. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, y'all? This is Questlove, and I'm here to tell you about a new podcast I've been working on with the Story Pirates and John Glickman called Historical Records. It's a family-friendly podcast. Yeah, you heard that right. A podcast for all ages. One you can listen to and enjoy with your kids starting on September 27th.

I'm going to toss it over to the host of Historical Records, Nimany, to tell you all about it. Make sure you check it out. Hey, y'all. Nimminy here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise.

Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there, my little creeps. It's your favorite ghost host, Teresa. And guess what? Haunting is back, dropping just in time for spooky season. Now, I know you've probably been wandering the mortal plane, wondering when I'd be back to fill your ears with deliciously unsettling stories. Well, wonder no more, because we've got a ghoulishly good lineup ready for you. Let's just say things get a bit extra.

We're talking spirits, demons, and the kind of supernatural chaos that'll make your spooky season complete. You know how much I love this time of year. It's the one time I'm actually on trend. So grab your pumpkin spice, dust off that Ouija board. Just don't call me unless it's urgent. And tune in for new episodes every week. Remember, the veils are thin, the stories are spooky, and your favorite ghost host is back and badder than ever.

Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Now we have a special series where we speak with the artists behind one of the most influential jazz labels of the 20th century, Blue Note Records. You'll hear from artists like nine-time Grammy award-winning Noah Jones, John Mellencamp and Madonna collaborator Michelle Indegiocello, and from the legendary Ron Carter, former member of the Miles Davis Quintet, who's also played with Herbie Hancock, and on Gil Scott Heron's The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. Join us over at Broken Record to hear stories behind the legendary label. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hey, everyone.

This is Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Layton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8 8, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. It took drama and mayhem to an entirely new level. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, every backstab, blackmail and explosion, and every single wig removal together. Secrets are revealed as we rewatch every moment with you. Special guests from back in the day will be dropping by. You know who they are. Sydney, Allison, and Joe are

back together on Still the Place with a trip down memory lane and back to Melrose Place. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. To know when to leave. When it starts getting late and people start taking off their clothes, you know it's time for you to leave.

Now, you did mention, we saw the Sergio in the back, Sergio Hudson. Sergio Hudson. He's my godson. You didn't hear how I said that when he walked in? I didn't know that was Sergio Hudson. I was like, when I saw him, I was like, no way. Because this is what Sergio said.

He said, Mom, you're too much like a mom. I want you to be more like you were. I said, well, I don't have the body that I had and so this is all how did y'all get out how did y'all know each other as soon as he walked in this one over here was like last night he was at the gala with me and those women when they see him they're like oh I want your clothes i want your clothes but because he's doing it for us in the couture world you gotta come to the mic sorry to blow your spot up because he does he does kamala everybody he does uh michelle yep

he does for beyonce he does oh you did uh Did you do the VPs that glittery dress? No, that was Laquan. Okay, okay, okay. But he did when Michelle wore that burgundy coat that everybody wanted for the inauguration

of who was that? Joe Biden's inauguration. Joe Biden's. No, he did First Ladies. So how did y'all get up? How did y'all meet each other? When I did, I did my first New York Fashion Week show. So how did y'all get up? How did y'all meet each other? When I did my first New York Fashion Week show,

so I grew up pretty much obsessed with Stephanie Mills like most millennials that grew up in the late 80s. And I used all day, all night in my first New York Fashion Week show and the clip went viral. And somebody tagged her to it and she messaged me and I messaged her back and she was like shocked that I messaged her back.

I was. And so she was shooting a video or something and I said, I'll come out and I'll style you for the video. And she didn't believe me and I showed up in Charlotte and we shot the video. And you're from South Carolina, right? I'm from South Carolina. You're from South Carolina?

I never knew that. Yeah, I'm from right Carolina. You're from South Carolina? Mm-hmm. I never knew that. Yeah, I'm from right outside of Columbia, a little town called Ridgeway. Yeah. My mom is from Charleston. Yeah, that's where I'm born. Yeah, Mount Pleasant.

Wow. Yeah, I was born in Charleston, Raising Mount's Corner. Yeah. Well, go ahead. So, yeah. Sergio Hutchins is from Ridgeway, South Carolina. I had no fucking idea.

I'm going to be honest with you. I didn't even know you was a real person. You know, you see names on clothes and you know you don't think that like i literally i saw you from the door i was like it's she was geeking out as soon as she she started whispering to me because you got like you what you were doing with laquan smith is doing like oh y'all you guys are just like y'all y'all really doing it right now. And I know that that world is tough. And you're so, like, you have Kim at your show. You're dressing Michelle Obama.

Like, you are just, you're still so, like, us. He's iconic. Yes. And he needs to get his due. And you're young. You only what, 40? 40. Yeah.

40. Yeah. So we met, and we haven't spent separate since. We haven't been separate. And he's staying with me at my apartment in New York. Wow. Yeah, I come home from work every day and we watch Netflix. Tell me how you got put on.

Well, two things I want to know. Tell me how you got put on to Stephanie because you are young, right? So how did you get put on to Stephanie at a young age? And I know you're a little nervous, but you got to talk to the mic. Can you fix the mic so he doesn't have to bend down? I don't know how to fix this. I do. Go ahead.

Sorry. There you go. Thank you, Stephanie you sir you gotta talk into a baby um so you know i was a very visual child at four years old i just remember watching bet and like something in the way you make me feel and i was obsessed with fashion at a very very young age and i remember something in the way you make me feel she had on this patrick kelly suit in the white suit she wears in the beginning. He was a black designer, like the first black designer to be sanctioned by the city of Paris.

And she had him on in the video and I knew it. I was like, oh my God. Like, and she was always like, she was just so inspirational to me. Her and Anita Baker, all these women, you know, you grow up loving these women. And I was very influenced by her just because of the way she looked. Like, it was everything to me.

And then when she would come on Apollo and sing and the crowd would go crazy, it was just a different era. An era of real talent. Yes. And then, you know, they matched the talent with the beauty, and they were always so pulled together and so classy, and you aspire to be those type of people. And I just feel like it was a different era,

and I still yearn for that era. So that's why I kind of like design the way I do and style women the way I do. And I creative direct for a lot of people. He's creative director for Stevie. Stevie Wonder. Wow. And Stevie's coming to New York. Oh, wow. i create a direct for a lot of people he's creative director for stevie stevie wonder oh wow and stevie's coming to new york mm-hmm oh wow yeah so it's just kind of like you know but you call her mom so y'all y'all have a close relationship yeah call my godmother you know

this if you hang around four icons you become the fifth it's there like like he really is and and a lot of what you do and like you still have a really good pulse on what's happening in the world. How do you still keep up with what's happening all the time? Because you are booked. Like you with everybody all the time, everywhere you hanging with Stephanie Mills. Like, but you still know who's lit, who's relevant. But you also know, like you kind of guard your brand in a way where it's not guarded, but it is. Like it has that old school, you got to aspire to be, you know?

How do you do that? I love my people. So if anybody black is doing anything, I'm going to know what's going on. And, you know, I just, I have this vision of a world and fashion where we aren't just black designers or we aren't just black entertainers. Yeah. Where we are entertainers and we're designers. Right.

For the world. And we just happen to be black. So in order to do that, you have to normalize your people that look like you in those spaces. Yep. This is all his. My mission. Are you going to be, are you not not you're not dressing or costuming anything on Broadway right now

for her no I they have a whole costume but when she does her show I'm sure Michael is Michael is a designer for Hades

he was a wonderful designer but when I come back to Broadway he will be doing my my clothes why don't you do men stuff you don't do too much I just launched men

you just launched men at um this past this past fashion week this past fashion week this past fashion week so to be in store soon yes okay can we fit anything yes yes okay listen you have to tell me how you made it out of ridgeway south canada when i tell you ridgeway is a small town like my town is small but we got seven well we got 11 000 people now probably more y'all only got like 200 it's like i'm like no but see like my mom is from charleston okay and she moved to ridgeway because my grandmother married a man that was from there

and so my mom grew up in you know the metropolis that is charleston south carolina his mother's a pastor she's cultured and you know so i i always knew about what was going on in the world. I was in the country and on the farm, but I knew what was going on in the world. And so I just kind of never subscribed to You Have to Stay in a Little Town. Same. How'd you get your break, though? Like, what was it? It was a lot of work.

Long story short, I worked really hard, dressed a lot of celebrities that led me to, um, inauguration in 2021. And that really was the shifting moment for me when Michelle Obama wore my clothes to the Biden inauguration. And it kind of like took over everything. And I was like, this, it was very unexpected because we were trying to be low-key because we were like okay she's not the first lady anymore let's just put in some pants let's keep it low-key it's not about her and it just kind of became all about her yes that coat was fire well

congratulations yeah man congrats working with an icon like stephanie mills stevie wonder and there's an icon himself man yes absolutely and young i feel so privileged that he dresses me and he goes with me and because when people see him like you they like oh yeah i mean they do but no last night at that gala i was just like trying to her dress and her shoes and people were stopping me i'm'm like, I'm working. Like, you know, I get in like Godson mode when I'm with her. And I kind of forget who I am most of the time. He does. To me, she's just so iconic and so slept on and so underrated that I kind of like want people to see, you know, what I see

and what I feel like people that are around my age saw at that time. But what I love about her is the realness and the willingness to retreat from the industry and not have to be defined by that. So that's what I love and what I don't like about her. How difficult was it for you? Because, I mean, you didn't come under street wear, right? Like most people come under street wear. You came couture. Couture, yeah. Which is almost impossible because it takes a lot of money. to us for you because I mean you didn't come under street wear right like most people come under street wear you came couture which is almost impossible

because it takes a lot of money it takes a lot of experience and they say that is like fighting through the more white men and you were able to do this I mean what is couture I have no fashion sense what is couture it's more I do what I do is I do is ready to wear which is

luxury fashion you know like what's sold in Bergdorf, what I do is, I do is ready to wear, which is luxury fashion. You know, like what's sold in Bergdorf, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus. Luxury. It's hard to be completely honest because fashion is not unlike any other industry. You get compartmentalized. If you're black, you're expected to make urban clothes. You're expected to be weird.

You're expected to, like, I'm not expect, when I walk in the room, people don't expect me to be the You're expected to Like I'm not expected When I walk in the room People don't expect me To be the person That dresses the first lady Like they expect The old white man Old white man

And so I feel a lot of Pushback from the industry Because I don't fit the mold Of what they think An American sportswear designer Should be But that's what I'm fighting against To normalize us in different places

because we're not a monolith. We're not one type. We don't do one type of thing in every industry. Right. That's right. And it's very much like that in fashion. And it's kind of like they have their picks. So it's like this is the black designer we're promoting this year.

You're not that person because you don't fit the mold. You don't make hoodies. You don't make jogging pants. Streetwear, right. You don't do that. So you don't, we didn't sanction you. And because I came in, I think when I came into the industry and it kind of blew up, it was, I kind of came through a back door,

dressed as Michelle Obama, and it just kind of took over. Like Kylie Jenner came into the modeling world. Yeah, and just kind of took over and the you know my mom. Like Kylie Jenner came into the modeling world. Yeah and they kind of like yeah I mean you they don't like when you don't go through the proper functions to get there especially when and then you're black too so but I don't really care. Don't take it up with God. Yeah I don't care and that's what my mom always said she said no man I you know I grew up in the's what my mom always said. She said, no, man. You know, I grew up in a church, and my mom always told me, no man will ever take the credit for your success. That's right.

And I never understood what that meant until I actually entered this industry, and I kind of came up through a way that I don't think nobody else did. How do you pick and choose who to work with? Like, when you look at Stephanie Mills and you say, you know what, this is what I want to put on her today. Well, you know, it's not even a question with people that influence me. That's your muse in a lot of ways. Yeah, like, you know, but newer people, like I work with Kiki Palmer a lot.

We went to the Met Gala together and we just kind of clicked. And I was like, you know, I love what you're doing. I love what you're promoting. And we kind of just started like kind of like working together and after we started working together like three months later we were on the essence covers i was just like because we just clicked and i like people who are doing what i'm trying to do in their different industries right yeah so that's kind of what well congratulations, congratulations again, man. I love to see this.

I see them sitting over there, I'm like, this is... Nah, let's bring them up here. I have to ask, you got a new record out. Yeah, with Ray Chu. Yes. Yes.

MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh. Yes. Kid Capri. Kid Capri, yes. You back in the studio? Are you playing it? I just got it for the first time today. We gonna play it this morning.

We gonna play it this morning. Okay. We gonna play it this morning. I wanna ask you about, is your last performance gonna be on the 20th? Talk about the record first. Tell us about the record first. Well, it's so funny because Ray Chu sent me the record to see what I thought about it.

And I was like, I like this, Ray Chu. I said, this is really nice. I said, who are you going to get to sing it? He said, I'm hoping you'll sing it. So we just went in the studio and I just, he fluted Charlotte. I went in and I sang it and that was it. Yeah. Simple as that.

Simple as that. And are you only doing music now that like you feel like that about? I'm only doing music when I feel like it. Yeah. I'm only doing music when I feel like it. And your last performance is on the 20th? My last performance is October 20th in Hadestown. I got to come see it before then.

Please come. Let me know. It's Thursday through Sunday, right? No. Tuesday through Sunday. Jesus Christ. Oh gotta come see it before then. Please come, let me know. It's Thursday through Sunday, right? No, Tuesday through Sunday. Jesus Christ. Oh yeah, there's Monday off. Honey. They working you to death.

And on Mondays, what are you doing? Like, are you asleep all day? I'm sleeping all day. And Sergio, we there watching Law and Order and Netflix and every movie we go, I don't move. Do you hear me? I'm telling you, my feet be singing a symphony. I bet.

What have you learned, Sergio? What have you learned from Miss Mills? When y'all are sitting around having them Netflix and chills, what have you learned? I think because I'm so actively in the industry and I have to do things that she's had to do, it's refreshing to, you know, come home and be like, oh, God, this happened today and she

just she'll tell you like look don't pay You're going to be okay. Don't listen to these niggas. Yeah. Period. Carrie's already dying. That's five words to save your life, Serge. I'm telling you, don't listen to these niggas. Yeah. That's her motto. I tell him, I'm like, don't listen to him. Because I've never really, I used to listen to him up until my 30s. And then I was like, y'all are crazy.

I ain't listening to y'all. Y'all don't know. I know myself better. So listen to, I always tell him, listen to God, like your first mind. When your instincts tell you to do something, that's God talking to you. And that's what I tell him. I'm like, you know. And God whispers too.

He don't repeat, she don't repeat herself. You know, whisper and she don't repeat herself. But these niggas loud and constantly repeating it over and over all the time and saying all the wrong all the wrong things lord have mercy

and we'll give you bad advice and laugh at you that's right we appreciate you for joining us this morning yeah

and definitely go check out Haystown out right now in Broadway and then you you know at the

Wilco at the Wilcox Walter Kerr Walter Kerr Theater Walter Kerr Theater yeah Walter Kerr Theater. Yeah, at Tuesday from Saturday.

I'm there until October 20th. I'm coming next week. You have to go. It's amazing. It's amazing. It really is. The music is wonderful, and it's Greek mythology. So you have to know about Orpheus, Hades, Persephone.

You know the story. It's a love story. It's tragedy, but it's a love story. But it's wonderful. I mean, I really am enjoying it, but I'm ready to go home. You ready to go home? Well, ladies and gentlemen, thank you, Ms. Stephanie Mills, Sergio Hudson, thank you so much.

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