Godmother of Soul still belting out tunes
78-year-old Patti LaBelle plans to keep performing
Among the hundreds of Philadelphia Eagles supporters who are descending upon the Valley this week to cheer their team on during Super Bowl LVII stands out one fan in particular, and she took the stage at the Mesa Arts Center on Wednesday as the headline performer in the 2023 Super Bowl Soulful Celebration.
Patti LaBelle, the 78-year-old R&B powerhouse and Philadelphia native who has been deemed the Godmother of Soul, was the headlining performance during Wednesday’s event, the only inspirational concert and television special sanctioned by the NFL.
LaBelle and the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration joined forces with an array of artists, NFL players and performers to deliver an evening of uplifting music and messages of faith, hope and joyful inspiration to NFL fans ahead of the big game.
“I’m just happy to be a part of it because I’m an Eagles fan from Philadelphia, so you know I had to have at least a little bit to do with this concert,” LaBelle told The Arizona Republic over a phone interview.
Using her platform to bring unity
She said she was excited to be performing in the soulful celebration because everyone — including the NFL players who will be facing off this weekend — needs Jesus.
The grammy-award winning artist has been striking fans with her iconic vocal range on stages across America since she first began performing in the early 1960s with female vocal group The Ordette’s, before achieving solo success through chart-topping hits like, “Lady Marmalade,” “The Best Is Yet to Come,” and “On My Own.”
Now, nearly 63 years later, LaBelle is still performing, touring and using her stardom as a platform for philanthropic and humanitarian work.
LaBelle said she is happy to use her platform as a celebrity to uplift communities through philanthropic and faith-based events like the Super Bowl Celebration.
“People pay attention because I’m a celebrity,” LaBelle said. “I’m in a position to do that and I’m happy I am because I think I can get a few more
listeners than someone else might.”
LaBelle has underscored her musical and acting success with activist work, serving as a spokesperson for the National Minority AIDS Council’s “Live Long Sugar” campaign, and the National Cancer Institute.
The artist, who has received seven NAACP image awards, a Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award and several other activism-based accolades throughout her career has also championed causes like adoption, foster care, Big Sisters and the United Negro College Fund.
At 78, LaBelle has no plans of stopping
LaBelle has been belting out notes in high-energy performances since her first church choir concerts at the age of 14 and has no plans of stopping anytime soon, she said.
The secret to her mental and physical longevity? Positivity, self-respect and a quiet lifestyle.
“I surround myself with positivity and positive people,” LaBelle said. “Nobody around me will drain my mind or make me feel some type of way that’s not healthy.”
The Godmother of Soul noted that she has made taking care of herself a priority throughout her career.
“I take care of myself, I don’t do drugs and I don’t drink drink,” LaBelle said. “I don’t do things that can make an entertainer less of an entertainer throughout the years because of their lifestyle.”
The singer said she lives a boring and quiet life: “I play with my little dog, clean my house, cook every day and those are the things that ground me.”
At 78 years old, her mental health is pretty good and she has it “pretty together,” LaBelle said with a chuckle. “I think I do, at least, maybe my friends might say otherwise.”
LaBelle also emphasized the important role that self-respect and the respect of others have played in her career and success.
“Respect yourself. Respect everybody else and treat everyone like you’d want to be treated yourself,” LaBelle said.
When asked about pre-performance rituals, LaBelle noted that prayer is nonnegotiable.
“We all pray. Before we go onstage, my crew and my band, we pray. That’s a must every show and if somebody’s late coming to the prayer line we wait for them,” said LaBelle. “You know we might be a little late going on stage but we wait for the other parties so that we all can join in prayer.”
Hoping for a better future for Black artists
LaBelle, who is decorated with two Grammy awards and three Emmy nominations, said she thinks Black entertainers still do not receive the same treatment as their white counterparts but has “positive thoughts that we’ll be OK very soon.”
“It’s much better now for women than when I started and of course, there’s always room for improvement, because Black entertainers still don’t get their just do,” LaBelle said.
“I mean they don’t get everything that a white performer would get, I think we’re still behind in that, but it’s growing.”
The critically acclaimed singer said she hopes to continue performing and positively impacting her fans in the future, saying her post-pandemic shows have produced large audiences and have sold out on multiple occasions.
LaBelle has eight concerts across the U.S. lined up for 2023, with her next stop slated for Friday, March 10, at the Hall at Live Casino in Hanover, Maryland.
Embracing her audience openly and bringing them into her space has brought increased joy and purpose to the singer’s lifelong career, LaBelle said.
Before hanging up, LaBelle left her listeners with one last sentiment: “I’m 78 and I’ve been on it all my life and it brings smiles to someone when they’re having a bad day,” LaBelle said. “You know that makes a happy life for you in the end. A happier life.”