Luenell: You have to be on it and you have to stay on it, or you lose it. Just like you’ll get flabby if you don’t exercise (and I’ve done that too), your mind won’t be as sharp, and you’re not as quick if you don’t exercise that muscle. I like to stay sharp as a razor on mine. I feel like I’m that way now. I’ve done a lot of shows this year, and I’ve been on the road consecutively for the last 3 weeks with the exception of going home on Mondays, and leaving on Wednesdays. That doesn’t leave a lot of time at home. Just enough time to pull out you drawers, wash ‘em, and re-pack ‘em. What jewelry will I wear with this outfit? Maybe I’ll switch up some outfits. I try to be everything you paid to see. I want to look good, smell good, and give you what you paid for. You got dressed and came to see me.
Urban Grandstand Digital: …and that there, is what the fans love about you. They know that you put your all into this. They know they get a real show. It speaks to your longevity too. You've been out here doing it strong for more than twenty years.
Luenell: Yes, I have been. If it was up to my fans, I would be right there where I’m trying to me. I just got off the phone with Snoop, and there’s a lot of nitpicking and politicking, you know he talks to the pros like that. I’m just a real chick. I’m a down chick. I was born in Arkansas and raised in Oakland California, so it’s not too much B.S. you can pull on me, and I don’t just fall for everything.
A lot of times, it’s easier for an executive to deal with someone who’s young, dumb, and thirsty than it is to deal with someone who knows a good contract, knows a good deal, wants their money and deserves it. I don’t know if that is the case, but everything is in God’s time. I can want what I want, and work hard to get it, and feel like I deserve it, but my job is to keep from becoming bitter, and stay prayed up, and eventually it works out for the greater good.
Urban Grandstand Digital: What's also highly beneficial is the relationship you’ve built with Katt Williams because that puts you out there, and that puts people like Red Grant out there! I had an opportunity to catch up with him last year when he was here with Katt Williams, and he was an awesome brother.
Luenell: Absolutely. Red is like my brother. He is it. We watch each other’s kids. Mine is in college. His family loves me, and my family loves him. We don’t live far from each other. While Katt absolutely had a huge part in bringing me to the forefront, it was a beautiful thing that he reached back and got us. There’s a whole white demographic of my life that many of the brothers and sisters don’t pay attention to. My audience is not primarily all black. I do a lot of film and television projects that the sisters and brothers are not privy too. Borat was a huge film, and it was nominated for an academy award. Everyone doesn’t know that.
I worked with Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper, and Adam Sandler. I’m on my third Adam Sandler film now. Aaron McGruder. I have the range, and my lifestyle is not confined to any one specific thing. I’ll be a black woman till’ the day I die of course, but the comedy that I spew isn’t meant for everybody.
Urban Grandstand Digital: I also want you to talk a little about your upcoming projects. There's Hotel Transylvania, which seems like it would be so awesome to be a part of, Did you really expect the first one to do $350 million?
Luenell: From what I saw when I was going to do the voiceover, I knew it had the potential to be epic. I didn’t know it would do that, but I’m very glad it did. I know Adam Sandler is [happy] as well, because I just recorded my part for part 2 last week.
Urban Grandstand Digital: It’s awesome to get a second chance to be involved.
Luenell: Yes! Not a lot of sisters can say they did three films with Adam Sandler. He’s a great comedic icon, a swell guy, and very loyal. If he likes you, he’ll use you again in his films. It’s been proven time and time again. It didn’t hurt that my girl; you’re Cleveland native Kym Whitley, had me on this new season of Raising Whitley. I did about 6 episodes with them, and will probably be doing so more.
Urban Grandstand Digital: Was it planned for you to be on the show from the beginning?