Actor, comedian and beloved social media personality, Leslie Jordan joins Country Faith Radio with Hillary Scott on Apple Music Country. Leslie talks about recording his debut album Company’s Comin’, the struggle he has had with his faith growing up as a gay person, performing for Michelle Obama, hosting Hunker Down Radio on Apple Music Country, and more. Listen to the full episode here.
“It’s the songs of our childhood. I mean, it’s just the narrative of my life. You know? I grew up in the church and we heard those songs, and over the years, when I’m being dramatic, I’ll say I walked away from the church. Well, I never walked away from the church. You know? I had some problems with the whole gay thing and being accepted, and am I going to embrace something that I don’t feel embraces me? But through it all was that music, just the music.”
Leslie Jordan on Performing for Michelle Obama and her daughters
I got to meet [Michelle Obama.] She came to see me in my one man show at the beginning of the pandemic. This is a long, long time ago, a year ago. And then I was in Palm Springs not too long ago doing my show, and she came and brought her daughters. I did kind of a private show for 12 of her girlfriends. I mean, they were the rowdiest crowd I’ve ever played for. Her daughters would jump up and high five each other. It was so much fun. The White House must have just rocked.
Leslie Jordan Recalls Brandi Carlile Discussing Being a Gay Person of Faith
[Brandi Carlile] said, “I’m a high school dropout, honey, and I’ve always worried about my grammar and the way in which I speak.” I said, “You’re the most eloquent person I know.” And she was talking yesterday about being… she explained about being a gay person of faith, and how when you have to struggle and you have to fight for your faith, to believe, how much more you appreciate. I wish I could have… I wanted to write it down while she was talking. I said, “Whoa, Whoa, say it again. Say it again. Say it again, because you just summed up everything.” She’s just, she’s a deep thinker. Anyway, it was so much fun yesterday with her.
Leslie Jordan on Getting Vocal Advice from Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow
I had a talk yesterday with Brandi Carlile, who’s so wonderful. We were talking about singing. I said, “I’m not a singer.” She said, “Yes you are.” She said, “Let me tell you something. Biggest lesson I ever learned was from Sheryl Crow, and it was this thing about this exercise you do with a straw to open your vocal cords.” I can’t remember how it all worked, but she said, “I’m going to get Sheryl to teach you.” I said, “No. No, no, no. I couldn’t possibly.” She said, “Well, she’ll teach you and me both.” I said, “No, I can’t have Sheryl Crow teach me how to sing.” Not to disparage her in any way, but I just, “oh my gosh, no.”
Hillary Scott on Karaokeing with Brandi Carlile at a Wedding
So my quick Brandi Carlile story, I sang karaoke with her at a wedding, and we did “Fancy” [by Reba McEntire] together. So, that was like a dream come true, because she’s just one of my favorite, favorite artists, favorite vocalists. But, yeah, we sang “Fancy.” It was really fun.
