MISS CONFIDENT
Demi Lovato returns to her home state feeling like a rock star
Demi Lovato has often said she felt like an outsider growing up in Texas.
The pop star says she “never fit in” and “didn’t agree with a lot of the opinions down in the South.”
Today, she’s far removed from her days filming episodes of “Barney & Friends” in Dallas and summers spent doing beauty pageants in Houston. But some of those old feelings inevitably return when she’s back in the Lone Star State.
“I still feel kind of like an outsider, to be honest, when I’m back in Texas,” she says. “I dress a little different than other people. I’m used to a different lifestyle now. But it’s a good feeling. I still feel like I’m at home, and this is one place where I can be totally myself and not worry about paparazzi or anything like that.”
Lovato is back in the state on a tour with Nick Jonas, a fellow Texan, longtime friend and frequent collaborator. They perform Friday at Toyota Center as part of the Future Now Tour
and have worked hard to evolve past their early days as Disney stars, now pushing sex and sexuality to the forefront.
During a recent tour break in Canada, Lovato answered a quick series of questions about life on the road, mental health and telling herself she’s a rock star.
Q: You seem to be at a good place in your career. How does the tour reflect that?
A: It’s a really great feeling knowing that I’m onstage with one of my best friends and that we’re getting to live our dream every night. It’s a really great feeling knowing that the people in the audience came to see us and that they’re, hopefully, being inspired every night by our performances.
Q: How do you maintain and nurture the confidence you project onstage?
A: There is not necessarily a specific routine, but I stay motivated and I stay feeling confident by working out with my trainer every day. That helps my mind and my body. Also, looking in the mirror and telling myself that I’m a rock star. After you’ve done it a couple of times, it doesn’t feel silly anymore. It really helps you believe it. It’s just about positive affirmations.
Q: You’re taking the next step with fans and holding mental health workshops at every stop on tour. (Fans can sign up at castcentersontour.com.)
A: You can do a PSA or you can tweet or you can do little things like that. But what’s actually gonna make a difference is when you go out of your way to try to show people and get the message across in person. Mental health care to me is very important, and showing people face to face that they don’t have to be embarrassed of mental illness anymore makes more of an impact. There are a lot of times when people don’t know how to reach out, how to get the help that they need. We’re able to be there in person for them.
Q: What’s something that reminds you of Texas in your daily life?
A: If I ever hear a Southern accent, it reminds me of Texas. Food will definitely remind me of home. Chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy. White gravy, not the brown kind.
Q: Have you been working on new music?
A: New music is always on the horizon for me. I’m just constantly writing and recording. When I get off tour, I’m going to start my new album.
Q: First album you bought with your own money?
A: I think my first album was Britney Spears’ (“... Baby One More Time”). It was pretty crazy sitting next to her (on “The X Factor”). It was something that was definitely very surreal and kind of full circle. She’s a legend, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I think she’s a sweetheart. I’m really lucky that I got to know her a little bit.
Q: An album or a song that makes you feel confident?
A: Rihanna’s new album, “Anti,” does that for me.
Q: A few must-haves on the road?
A: My dog Batman and my phone. I’m pretty easygoing.