shortnin' bread
>> Wow.
A couple of legends right there.
Patti Labelle performing.
Dolly parton on the right back
in the '80s.
>> I'm going to make that my
screen saver right there.
The one and only Patti Labelle
is joining us.
>> Patti.
>> Great to see you.
That was a great clip.
You of course with dolly parton
on her variety show back in the
'80s.
That's gone viral recently.
What do you remember about that
time?
I don't think I've ever seen
anybody play the nails quite
like that.
>> Let me say something.
That was a wonderful moment with
dolly parton and Patti Labelle.
We have the same body
measurements.
We had the same manager at the
time, and we had the same nails.
So we did our clickin' nail
thing, honey.
We were killing it.
>> When is the last time you've
seen dolly?
Have you spoken to her recently?
>> I have not seen her.
I haven't seen her in about five
or six years.
No, I have not.
But we're buddies.
We're buddies.
Yes.
>> Patti, I understand that
Jennifer Hudson came to you
recently about portraying Aretha
Franklin.
What did y'all talk about?
>> We talked about Aretha and I
were out at the same time, doing
the same venues.
Of course we did some shows
together.
And for Jennifer, she just
wanted to know what it really
felt like to be in the presence
of Aretha Franklin.
I told her it was priceless, you
know, just a wonderful legend.
And Jennifer is going to be a
legend also, you know.
She's a young baby, but she's
getting ready to kick butt, as
usual. >> Way down the line, Patti, who
would you like to play you in a
biopic?
>> I have no clue.
I have about six, seven people,
six or seven girls who said they
would like to play Patti
Labelle.
And they're all worthy, you
know.
So I don't know which one would
do the best job.
I don't know.
You know, fantasia.
You know Jennifer but she can't
because she did Aretha.
A lot of wonderful young ladies
would like to play Patti, Patti.
>> That's a great group right
there.
Aside from your being the
godmother of soul, you're also
famous for your pies and being
in the kitchen.
>> We love your pies.
>> Walmart said they've sold
36,000 Patti pies in one day.
It's got to be some sort of pie
record.
At this point have you sold more
records or pies?
>> I have to be honest.
I've sold more pies.
I should go in the baking
business and leave the recording
alone.
>> That's awesome.
>> But I'm still singin', honey.
I'm still recording.
Yes.
And I have this new book out, my
20th anniversary of Labelle
cuisine with new recipes, new
pictures of my grandbabies, and
I have this wonderful old spice
commercial that came out last
night.
Talking about the beautiful
products they have, not just for
men. For women also.
>> These old spice commercials
are so fantastic.
Who do you play in the
commercial?
>> I play my baby.
What's his name?
Deon Cole.
I play his mother-in-law, and he
hates my guts.
He's so funny, yeah.
I play his mama-in-law.
>> That's so funny.
Patti, I want to go back to
music for a second and talk
about some of your classic hits.
One of my favorite songs is a
duet with Michael McDonald, "On
my own."
Such a great song.
♪ So many promises
it's so great.
But I heard Michael wasn't
originally supposed to be in the
song, right?
Wasn't it a solo, but you
actually personally selected
Michael?
Is that true?
♪♪
>> I hated the song as a solo,
so I threw it away.
Burt bacharach came to the
studio and said, Patti, please
don't throw it away.
Would you like to do it as a
duet?
I said sure.
With who?
He said, Michael McDonald.
I never met him but I love his
gravelly voice.
Just a singing fool.
He did his in L.A.
He was in Brooklyn.
I was in malibu.
We met on Johnny Carson's show.
>> That had to be one of the
first times doing it.
Now all the duets are done apart
all the time.
That's such a great story.
>> What was the story behind
"Lady marmalade"?
What can you tell us about
behind the scenes with that one?
>> Behind the scenes was we
heard the song, flew to L.A. --
I mean flew to New Orleans with
Alan toussaint, said to him this
has to be the first recording.
Never knew that it was about a
hooker until it was out for four
months and the nuns said, you're
singing about a bad lady.
So we had no clue.
But it was a hit, you know?
So that was the story with that
one.
Not knowing, but you know that
sound and the hook was the hit.
>> Did you know what "Voulez
vous coucher avec moi" meant?
Did you know what that meant
when you were singing?
>> No, I had no clue.
I knew it was a hit squad.
I knew it meant "Hit record,"
not knowing it meant sleep with
me tonight.
>> It meant money, Mario.
>> It's still a great song.
Yes, money.
>> Patti, were you supposed to
sing "I will always love you"?
Was that supposed to be your
recording?
>> Dolly parton wanted me to
record so that so many times.
She said, Patti, you must record
it. I said, I want to.
Before I said I will, my baby
girl Whitney had it and killed
it.
I missed that.
I missed that song.
My, gosh.
That was one of my
supposed-to-be songs, but I
didn't get it.
>> I wanted to ask real quick,
Patti, did you have fun doing
the masked singer?
>> Oh, honey, let me tell you
something.
The mask -- the gown made 1,000
pounds.
The mask made you not want to
breathe.
You could hardly sing through
that mask.
The first week, everybody said,
we know it's Patti Labelle.
I said, how?
They said because your hands and
the way you walk.
I said it couldn't be because of
my voice because I was muffled.
I was singing "9 to 5."
I said, girl, you sound a hot
mess.
I couldn't sound like me, you
know?
But it was great while I was
there.
I asked Gladys before I did it,
how was it under that mask,
Gladys?
She said it was not cute.
>> Patti, before we let you go,
why are you looking so good?
Is it all those pies?
What's going on because you look
sensational.
Tell me everything you're doing.
>> It's that old spice.
>> Moisturizing, honey, the Shea
butter, body wash.
I just wake up, and I feel
great.
Sometimes when you feel great,
you're going to look great.
And I have nothing to complain
about.
I'm blessed.
My grandbabies are healthy.
My son is healthy, and I'm a
healthy, happy woman at 77.
>> Oh, wow.
You can tell.
>> You look great.
>> Keep doing you, Patti.
We don't wait to talk to you.
>> God bless, you Patti.
>> Pies for everybody!
>> Thanks so much, Patti.
Get ready because it's shark
week and our friend Paul