Preloading

Why Patti LaBelle Says She Never Wanted to Be a Solo Artist

Season 5 Episode 505
Aired on 11/22/2015 | CC tv-14
Years before Lady Gaga and Madonna came along, Patti LaBelle, along with Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx, revolutionized music with their out-of-this-world fashion and over-the-top hairstyles. Their glam-rock girl group, Labelle, scored a number one hit with "Lady Marmalade," but eventually, the women decided to go their separate ways.

Patti says the group's break up was really hard for her at the time. "I never wanted to be a solo singer," she says. "I was always afraid of people blaming Patti LaBelle for the break up of Labelle. Because with Diana Ross, of course, they blamed her for the break up of the group, and it was that all three of us wanted to leave."

Before her first solo performance in London, Patti says she was so petrified that she sought the advice of a therapist. "I said they'll never, never accept me," she recalls. "I saw the doctor, and we had a few sessions, [but it] still didn't take the fear away from me."

The night of her show, Patti received a standing ovation, and she never looked back. Watch as Patti shares why she's no longer afraid of change.

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