He has a radio program on WXOU out of Oakland University
Wild At Heart
It's still not too late to get to the Royal Oak Music Theatre tonight to catch Jordin Sparks with opener Kate Voegele. I saw Jordin last year and while she is not my style of music typically, the fans at the show were screaming and cheering her with a lot of passion. Recently I had the opportunity to send off a few questions to Jordin about her career and what's happening in her life. Usually I do live/recorded interviews with artists so this is new for me because I really rely on follow up questions and feeling out what an artist is really passionate and focusing on that. So here are the 5 questions I sent to Jordan so please forgive that they don't have the typical follow up.
1) Before appearing on American Idol, you won a number of talent
competitions but it was Idol that catipulted you to fame. Do you think
you would have achieved the same level of success without the show?
WELL I CAN’T TELL YOU THAT FOR CERTAIN. EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT PATH THEY’RE
TAKING AND AMERICAN IDOL JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE A PART OF MINE. I THINK I WOULD STILL BE PURSUING MUSIC BUT I DON’T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE AT THE LEVEL I AM NOW. I MEAN HAVING SOME 30 MILLION PEOPLE WATCH YOU EVERY WEEK DEFINITELY HELPS!
2) You were appointed by President George W Bush to be a member of the
President's Council on Service and Civic Participation for a two year
term along with other celebrities such as Corinne Bailey Rae and Michael
W. Smith. What were the duties of the post and how did it feel to be
asked for such an honor?
TO BE ASKED BY THE PRESIDENT, IT WAS AMAZING. I WAS TO BRAINSTORM WITH THE OTHERS ON THE COUNCIL ON IDEAS AND WAYS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AROUND THE COUNTRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HELP IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND THEN EARLIER THIS YEAR I LAUNCHED, WITH MY BROTHER, OUR 'IM M.A.D. ARE YOU?' CAMPAIGN. M.A.D. STANDS FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE. ITS ALL ABOUT LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL YOUR EFFORT IS AS LONG AS YOU’RE DOING IT. :)
3) You have just joined the fight against texting while driving. What
inspired you to get involved with this cause and what other causes are
you supporting at this time?
I GOT INVOLVED WITH ALLSTATE LAST YEAR WHEN THEY ASKED MY MOM AND ME TO BE APART OF THEIR CAMPAIGN. WE TEAMED UP TOGETHER TO SHOW THAT TEXTING AND DRIVING NOT ONLY EFFECTS PEOPLE MY AGE BUT MY MOM’S GENERATION AS WELL. X THE TXT IS ALL ABOUT STOPPING TEXTING AND DRIVING. IT’S JUST AS DISTRACTING, IF NOT MORE, THAN TAKING A CALL BEHIND THE WHEEL. WHEN I LEARNED THAT TEXTING BEHIND THE WHEEL IN THE EQUIVALENT TO DRINKING 4 BEERS AND TRYING TO DRIVE I WAS SHOCKED. YOU WOULDN'T DRIVE DRUNK, WELL SHOULDN'T ANYWAY, SO WHY RISK YOUR LIFE AND POTENTIALLY OTHER LIVES AROUND YOU JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO LOOK AT YOUR PHONE? IT’S ALL ABOUT MAKING OUR STREETS SAFER. IM REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE ALLSTATE X THE TXT ON TOUR WITH ME AND TO HAVE A BOOTH WHERE MY FANS AND PARENTS CAN TAKE THE PLEDGE TO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE. IF THEY CAN’T MAKE IT TO A SHOW, THEY CAN TAKE THE PLEDGE AT FACBOOK.COM/THUMBSUPPLEDGE TOO.
4) What is the one thing you are most thankful for in your career?
MY WHOLE CAREER! I LOVE BEING ABLE TO SING FOR MY JOB! FOR ME, THAT’S THE
MOST AMAZING THING IN THE WORLD. EVERYTHING ELSE THAT COMES ALONG IS A
BONUS.
5) What is next for you after your headlining The Battlefield Tour and
starring on Broadway in "In The Heights?"
WELL AFTER THE TOUR, BROADWAY AND HOPEFULLY A LITTLE BREAK, I’LL START WORKING ON ANOTHER ALBUM.
Jordin is currently touring her first headlining tour in support of her second studio album "Battlefield". Her website is www.jordinsparks.com for more info on the tour and merch. Here is a video of "Battlefield" for your viewing pleasure.