Jordin Sparks first came to public attention on the television show American Idol, winning the sixth season; she still remains the youngest and last female to win the competition. Her self-titled album released shortly after, and she landed two top-10 singles with "Tattoo" and "No Air." Her second record, Battlefield, continued her success.
She branched out into acting with a few television appearances, then took on Broadway with In the Heights. Her latest project combines both worlds with the remake of the musical Sparkle.
Sparkle was inspired by The Supremes with a trio of sisters trying to make it in the music business. It features Whitney Houston in her final film, playing Sparks' mother.
Windy City Times: Good morning, Jordin. Are you tired? It is really early in the morning.
Jordin Sparks: Yes, I am.
WCT: You must be doing tons of interviews.
Jordin Sparks: I have, actually. It has been really crazy. A lot of it I do on my own. It has been 18- or 19-hour days of pure press, going and going. Somebody had to be Sparkle, so I am excited!
WCT: What made you want to play her?
Jordin Sparks: My agent approached me with the project. I thought the name Sparkle, with Sparks, had a nice ring to it. I read the script and fell in love with it. I was just floored by it. It was so great. I was laughing. I was crying. I was uncomfortable and angry in parts that I was reading.
The fact that it jumped off the page just by reading it, I knew that it was going to be something special for whoever got the part. I was very excited and knew I had a big task ahead of me, not having done a movie before and Sparkle was a good part. I knew that there was a chance that I wouldn't get it. I went in and did my audition. They called me back a couple more times then called me to tell me that I got it. I was just beside myself. I was so excited.
WCT: Did you see the original version?
Jordin Sparks: I did a couple of months before the audition. I had heard about them remaking the movie but I didn't know they were auditioning but I investigated it. I loved the story and the fashion. After I got the part I watched it one more time, and when Irene Cara walked on as Sparkle we even looked similar. It was crazy! I really loved the movie and didn't realize how much of a cult classic it was until I got the part. People were coming up to me of all ages and races telling me not to mess it up. They even wanted certain songs on the soundtrack and I just said, "I will let them know. It is not really up to me, thanks." [Laughs]
WCT: Whitney Houston plays a very strict mother. Is your own mother similar to that?
Jordin Sparks: You know, Sparkle's character and myself have very similar parallels, except that my mom has always been 100-percent supportive of me doing music. Yeah, there were things that I couldn't do until a certain age. I had curfews and things like that. My mother is actually here with me in New York and I am spending a little time with her. I haven't seen her in a month.
WCT: Did you grow up in music when you were younger?
Jordin Sparks: I did. I was pretty much born singing literally. I was singing and humming things before I even knew how to speak or even the meaning of the words. My nana found a home video tape of me singing at 18 months old. She is playing the piano and I am sitting there singing "Jingle Bells" on key. It was on rhythm and everything. It was really crazy to watch!
I sang my entire life, in school and in church. I did the musicals in drama club. I did competitions and karaoke. I sang in the shower. I did all of that because I loved it so much. I knew I was going to be a singer; I just didn't know when it was going to happen.
WCT: When you went out for American Idol, it took a couple of tryouts to get in. Was it difficult?
Jordin Sparks: I auditioned one time before, and I auditioned in LA since that was close to where I lived. I did the whole thing about two o'clock in the morning. I waited in line and all of that. They told me I did really [well], but there was something missing. I asked, "Can you tell me what that is?" She said, "It wasn't great." I brushed it off and walked out. My whole thought process was that it wasn't something I was supposed to do right now or something needs to happen first. I knew I had a couple more years to audition because of the age limit that they have. I went home and did a localized audition of Idol and that took me to Seattle, where I was on air.
WCT: Are you focusing on acting now? You have done so well with hits like "No Air."
Jordin Sparks: Thank you. Actually, I am filming my next project right now. It is called The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete. I play an Afro-American Latina in it. Alicia Keys is executive-producing it. I am very excited about it.
I just read another script just the other day that I really loved so hopefully I can go to the audition and get a part. I really liked it.
I am working on a new record as well so my biggest challenge is to figure out how to balance it all! [Laughs]
WCT: What are you doing for the opening of Sparkle?
Jordin Sparks: They are having a premiere so this will be my first movie premier ever so I am pretty much going all out. I am flying in pretty much all of my family. My mom and dad will be there along with my grandmothers and grandpa. I am excited that the people who are important to me will be there except for my brother. He is in college doing football stuff. He has commitments but he was able to see it before with me.
There is an after-party, after that I will probably go to my hotel and celebrate with my family or go to dinner. I am not quite sure but I am so excited. I cannot wait!
WCT: It really showcases your talents.
Jordin Sparks: Thank you. I appreciate that. I really wanted to pursue acting. I never knew when it was going to happen because music was my number one. I didn't know it was going to be now, you never know, but Sparkle fell into my lap and it was the perfect thing.
WCT: Whitney and you have both have had such gay followings.
Jordin Sparks: I heard in New York they are already having a Sparkle drag-queen party! I wish I could be a fly on the wall to see it. I love it. I actually didn't know how big of a gay following I had until I started going out on tour a few years ago. I thought it was so awesome. It was so amazing to see how broad my fan base has become. Tell them I thank them so much and really appreciate it.
I know this movie is going to produce a lot more of those kinds of parties! [Laughs] I heard there are drag queens dressed up like me and I can't wait to see that. I know with Halloween coming up I really hope there are people dressed up like Sparkle. It doesn't matter if they are gay or not but I want to see all of those pictures.
WCT: People need to stay for the credits because there is your duet with Whitney playing, and it is dedicated to her at the end.
Jordin Sparks: They did such a good job. The first time I saw it I was so nervous. I was looking at it through the eye of the script knowing exactly how it went. I didn't get to really appreciate it for how amazing it was until the third time I got to see it. I was sitting there from a strictly entertainment point of view and they did an amazing job from the screenwriters, editors, to the director, Salim Akil. It fell together perfectly. I have an overwhelming sense of pride that we made something that made Whitney so happy. I definitely think people should sit through the closing credits. I agree.
WCT: Do you want to do more musicals? I know you did In the Heights.
Jordin Sparks: I do. I love watching them. If Broadway came up again I would love to do it. It would have to be the right characters and story. Some people might think they are cheesy but to me I love them.
Two years ago after I did In the Heights, there were talks of making the film so I hope that comes back to life. I would love to play Nina in the movie version.
WCT: Come back to Chicago soon.
Jordin Sparks: I will. They literally had me in the city for a day. I would get there the night before do press then leave the next day. The city was as beautiful as it always looked and it was fun when I passed the House of Blues and remembered performing there. I have really fond memories of Chicago.
WCT: Well keep shining with Sparkle.
Jordin Sparks: Thank you. Tell everyone to come see it!
