Keke Palmer Makes Some ‘Joyful Noise’By Max Evry
January 9, 2012
Since her lead role in 2006’s “Akeelah and the Bee” actress/singer Keke Palmer has had an inspired career ranging from the Nickelodeon sitcom “True Jackson, VP” to “Madea’s Family Reunion” all the way to her 2007 debut album “So Uncool”.
Now she’s the one doing the inspiring as the lead vocal for a small town Gospel choir in “Joyful Noise.” Directed by Todd Graff (“Camp”), the movie co-stars Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton and features many rousing musical numbers. Blackfilm.com recently sat down with Ms. Palmer for an exclusive chat where she discusses the film, the joy of Gospel, her new album, and more.
You worked with Dana [Queen Latifah] on “Barbershop 2” way back in the day. During the scene in “Joyful Noise” when she says, “You’re a woman now,” did that resonate with you?
Keke Palmer: It’s happened over the course of time. I moved to California when I was 10-years-old, I think I turned 10 on the last day of “Barbershop 2.” Every time I’ve seen her since when I’ve been in California, just at premieres or at shows, she’s always like, “You just keep growing up!” Then when she saw me in the movie, we met on set, she was just like, “you’re getting so much older, it’s so funny, I can’t believe that! That one time in ‘Barbershop 2’ and now look at all you’ve achieved.”
You’re already a world-class singer, but did working with Queen and Dolly Parton up your game a little bit?
Keke Palmer: Working with both of them is a constant reminder to be appreciative and grateful for all the things you have. They’re both very kind. No matter how huge a star we know Dolly Parton to be she’s still at every rehearsal, she still took everything seriously, she never thought she was too big. Same with Dana. They’re a great example. They showed no matter how many things you get to achieve you still remain a great person.
What is it about Gospel specifically that touches you?
Keke Palmer: Music, period, touches you, then with Gospel I feel like no matter if you’re a spiritual person or not it feels inspirational. You feel like you’re gonna get up and grab your heart, shout or anything like that! (laughs) I don’t have a million Gospel albums on my iPod, but anything that makes you feel good, gives you a good feeling I just love it, and Gospel music does that.
What was the most challenging number in the film?
Keke Palmer: Probably the “Man in the Mirror” scene because it was the first day of shooting. Not only was it a huge number, singing one of the biggest Michael Jackson songs ever… you don’t compete with Michael… all that, and the fact that it was the first day. It was very nerve racking. I wanted to make sure that I did right, start the movie off with a great kick and then I wanted to make sure I performed the song the way it needed to be performed. Once it got started I got into it and it all worked out well.
When you’re performing with the choir its very much a team dynamic. Even though you’re the star off the film you all felt like a unit. Was that the feeling on the set?
Keke Palmer: Very much so, and we all hung out. We would always be together. We came to Atlanta January 4th, then we started filming in February, so all that month was just us rehearsing. It was kind of like a Broadway show, and Todd Graff is a Broadway guy. We all just became friends, laughing at all the little inside jokes we had. It was all very real.
Todd has been in the business since he was a kid too, at Stagedoor Manor, “Electric Company.” Did he have any advice for you in terms of your career?
Keke Palmer: No, he’s just a great guy. He never wanted to be like, “Let me teach you this.” He lets you do what it is you want to do. He has ideas in his head. He’ll tell you, “Try whatever you want,” then he’ll say, “Well, I was thinking this…” (laughs) He lets you be yourself and have opinions, ’cause he’s a creative person, he even acted for awhile. He just lets you be creative in your own way.
Speaking of directors, is there a director out there you’re particularly interested in working with?
Keke Palmer: I like Steven Spielberg, but I wouldn’t want it to be a film like “E.T.”, not necessarily action, more of an emotional film. I’d love to work with Meryl Streep, she’s one of my favorites, but not necessarily a director I can think of right now.
Is it true you recently worked with Spike Lee in “Red Hook Summer”?
Keke Palmer: No. They always have that stuff on IMDB, not your fault.
Ahh, okay. But you WERE going to be in Marvel’s “Runaways” for a minute?
Keke Palmer: Yes, but they put it on hold. Was definitely supposed to do that one, but they put it on hold.
What’s the status on that? Are they keeping you in the loop?
Keke Palmer: No. Sometimes they give you updates if they’re extremely close, but if they’re not close you don’t hear. You get a call from your agent that it’s “on hold”.
You start touring soon. What place are you the most excited to play?
Keke Palmer: I don’t have a complete list, but I’m finishing up my album now and the single should be coming out very soon, third or fourth month of the next year, hopefully. As far as touring, there are places I hope to go to but nothing I know for sure yet.
What other projects do you have in the pipeline?
Keke Palmer: I have a movie that should be ready to film soon called “Virgin Mary” with Abigail Breslin. I’m getting ready to shoot that the first of the year; then I’m working on my music. I have a movie, “Ragz”, coming out for Nickelodeon that I produced with Nick Cannon. I’m also starring in it but I was most excited to produce.
At the end of the day, why should people come to see “Joyful Noise”?
Keke Palmer: Because it’s everything you could imagine: it’s inspirational, it’s funny, it tugs on your heart. I don’t want people to think, “Oh, this movie’s about Gospel…” It’s not one of those movies that attacks religion on your back. It’s not like that, it just has that undertone. It puts you in the mind of “Sister Act 2”. That movie was spiritual but wasn’t attacking you. It was funny, you had a good time. The range is from 6-year-olds to grandmothers, everyone can go see this movie, and you can go as a group.
“Joyful Noise” opens everywhere January 13th.
