Patti LaBelle is ready to stir it up for New York’s gay community when she headlines NYC Pride’s Pride Island concert on Friday night.
The two-time Grammy winner — known for her wild outfits and soaring vocals on hits like “Lady Marmalade” (with LaBelle bandmates Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash) and “New Attitude”— embraces her LGBT icon status and has no plans to hold back for the people she affectionately calls her “children.”
“I’m going to be as spontaneous as usual. I had some new drag made and have new fun things to do onstage,” she tells The Post. “My gay friends have always been there for me. I am so honored to do this; it makes me feel like a star!”
Here’s what else LaBelle, 73, had to say.
Why do you have such a strong connection to the LGBT community?
I’m very vocal about speaking my mind when I see injustice. I stand onstage and talk about what’s in my heart. Sometimes gay men and ladies are afraid to come out and say what they really feel, so I think I’m a voice for some of my children.
Like Bette Midler, you and your band LaBelle performed at the Continental Baths back in the day. What was that like?
I thought it was just a regular club. I wanted bubble gum and went to this machine and put money in — I don’t know how much — and out comes a rubber in a plastic ball. I said, “Is this bubble gum?” And Nona [Hendryx] knew, she said, “No, Pat, that’s a rubber.” [laughs] And then we were singing and some guy’s towel came off in the audience. I said, “Oh, my goodness — I see you got excited, didn’t you, boo boo?” It was fun!
You once called yourself “the original drag queen.”
I still am.
How is it watching drag queens perform live as you?
They’re petrified; I’m not. I’m sitting there saying, “You better do me right.” [laughs] And they do. There was one, he was better than I am. And he actually sang — he didn’t do lip-sync. I don’t know how that boy did what he did.
Do you have any special songs planned for the gay audience?
Everything I sing is for my gay children. And I’m gonna end the show with something I hope they’ll love: It’s a Shirley Horn song, “Here’s to Life,” from my jazz CD [“Bel Hommage,” out now].
Why is that so meaningful?
It sums it all up. We’re all in this world right now, which is not so pretty — politically, racially, everything. Every time I sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” or “Here’s to Life,” I don’t want them to hear my voice, I want everybody to listen to the lyrics. My message is: Love a whole lot, and love me like you would want me to love you.
Patti LaBelle, Deborah Cox and DJ Lina at Pride Island, 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday. Tickets, $35 and up (21 and older). Pier 26, Hudson River Park at Hubert Street; nycpride.org