For Good Podcast: “From Viral Mistake to Redemption: Loomis on Rising Again”

Host: Joseph “JoJo” Simmons
Guest: Loomis (artist, performer)
Date: August 19, 2025

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt, candid episode of For Good, JoJo Simmons welcomes Loomis, a dynamic artist and creative force, for an in-depth conversation about vulnerability, public failure, resilience, and redemption. The episode centers on Loomis’s infamous viral national anthem mishap, her path through adversity—including surviving abuse and insecurity—and how she’s reclaimed her narrative to become a source of inspiration for others. The conversation is raw, humorous, full of soul, and delivers a powerful message: mistakes don’t define us—how we rise does.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Weight of Public Mistakes (00:19–04:42; 08:25–13:20)

• Loomis recounts her national anthem incident:
  She accepted an offer to sing the anthem last-minute, faced her greatest fear, and was stopped mid-song. Loomis describes the heartbreak and subsequent viral embarrassment.

  • Quote:
    “I got too nervous. I had a day before to practice something that I’ve always been scared to do… I messed it up. Could I go back? No. We live. But I didn’t know we was live…” — Loomis (00:30)
  • JoJo relates, sharing that even his legendary father, Rev Run, still gets stage jitters.
    • Quote:
      “The Great Rev Run. He still gets nervous… I’ve seen him pacing back and forth.” — JoJo (01:02, 07:47)

• Processing public mistakes:
  Loomis opens up about crying afterward, feeling the presence of her late mom and grandmother through butterflies—a symbolic motif for comfort.

  • Quote:
    “I ran outside and started crying really hard…that morning, butterflies started twirling around me, and I was like, oh my gosh, y’all showing up for me…” — Loomis (12:02)

2. Vulnerability & Creating from Pain (03:39–06:48; 05:55–07:47)

• Loomis’s artistry is deeply intertwined with her struggles; a survivor of teen abuse, she channeled pain into music after escaping a violent relationship.
  • Quote:
    “I got in a really abusive relationship when I was 16... And when I left, I said, what I’ma do? What I love to do… I love to sing.” — Loomis (03:39)
• JoJo and Loomis bond over using creativity as healing:
  • Quote:
    “Instead of soaking in what you’re going through… finding something to keep you through it.” — JoJo (04:42)

3. Fear, Performance, and Showing Up Anyway (05:55–08:25; 14:16–16:33)

• Both describe stage fright as a sign of passion (“All great performers and creatives are nervous”), highlighting courage over comfort.
• The national anthem went viral not because of perfection, but vulnerability:
  • Quote:
    “You know how great God is. If I woulda did it perfect, nobody would’ve knew. But you know how great He is? He showed my personality…” — Loomis (12:23)

4. Processing Internet Judgment & Reclaiming the Narrative (13:20–22:36)

• Loomis discusses viral shame, negative comments, but also the outpouring of love that surprised her:
  • Quote:
    “It really hurt though... for me to go viral for something so embarrassing really kind of hurt my feelings... But it showed me there’s way more good people in the world than there is bad people.” — Loomis (14:15, 16:01)
• JoJo encourages detachment from faceless critics:
  • Quote:
    “You can’t let the people that don’t know you control you. None of these people on the internet know you…” — JoJo (20:51)
• Loomis finds strength by responding positively to haters, winning them over:
  • Quote:
    “When somebody’s mean to me, I always be nice... and nine times out of ten, they always follow me back.” — Loomis (20:51)

5. Redemption Moments: On and Off Stage (16:33–23:16; 21:46–22:36)

• Loomis finds redemption performing again, notably being invited to sing the anthem at the White House after her viral mishap.
  • Quote:
    “After I messed up the national anthem, they’re like, yeah, come down now and sing it at the White House… I was even scareder because now I had already messed up, and then now I gotta do it again.” — Loomis (21:46–22:04)
  • She also points to her song “Trouble” as her life’s story and a musical redemption.
• JoJo reframes failure as an origin story for inspiration:
  • Quote:
    “Even if in fear, you must go and do it. Show up and see what happens.” — JoJo (28:47)

6. Trauma, Resilience, & Giving Back (23:38–24:27)

• Loomis speaks movingly about her rough upbringing—surviving abuse, group homes, lack of parental love—and her commitment to transforming her pain into encouragement for others.
  • Quote:
    “I literally gave birth with a black eye…I never had no mom. All the moms from the hood raised me. I’m a lover, I love everybody...all my stories is so that I have a really cool concept to talk about when I make a song.” — Loomis (23:53)

7. Mental Health Practices & Advice (24:36–25:25)

• Loomis’s tools for staying grounded:
  • She swears by affirmations and simple breathing techniques (“breathe in five, hold five, breathe out five, and hold five…”).
  • Quote:
    “Us as humans, we can only feel things for like 15 minutes. Anything else, we respiraled and went back around.” — Loomis (25:22)

8. Cultural Inspirations (25:44–26:44)

• Loomis shouts out “What’s Love Got To Do With It” (the Tina Turner story) as a powerful source of inspiration for women overcoming hardship.

9. What’s Next for Loomis (27:07–28:11)

• New music is on the way, including songs “Queen,” “W8Ting,” and “Cereal.”
• Loomis also shares about her events business and encourages listeners to follow her (“LOOMIS Official” on all platforms).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Facing Humiliation Publicly:
  “I walked up stomping because I knew I had messed it up, and then I ran outside and started crying really hard…” — Loomis (12:02–12:16)
• On the Power of Vulnerability:
  “But I’m not perfect. I’m just a little dork girl from out of Poima…It was a really vulnerable moment. It was great because I got to reach a lot of people who maybe felt what I…” — Loomis (12:55–13:20)
• On Internet Trolls:
  “It used to just make me feel super discouraged… but I always say nine times out of ten, if you walked in a room with those same people talking about you, you’d walk out the room and that person would probably love you.” — JoJo (19:49–20:51)
• On Second Chances:
  “You can’t tell me God isn’t using you. Let me tell you something. God is not always going to give you things the way you envision it, but he’s going to give you things the way he’s supposed to…” — JoJo (22:36)
• To Listeners Who Need Encouragement:
  “You ain’t it. You’re it. That’s all I gotta say is you’re it.” — Loomis (24:23)

Recommended Resources

• Music:
  • “Trouble” and “W8Ting” by Loomis (available on all streaming platforms)
• Film:
  • What’s Love Got To Do With It (Tina Turner biopic)

Loomis’s Socials & Projects

• Instagram: @Loomisofficial (“Don’t forget the two O’s. That ain’t no U!”)
• New songs: “Queen,” “W8Ting,” “Cereal,” and more on the way
• Events: Check out “Labubu Live Events” for bookings

Closing Thoughts (28:47–end)

JoJo wraps with gratitude, underscoring the episode’s core message—that our worth and legacy are measured not by our most public mistakes, but by our daily courage to show up, create, and lead with love. Loomis’s story is a luminous reminder that resilience, authenticity, and joy can coexist with fear and imperfection—and that’s what truly inspires.

Listen to this episode if you:

• Need encouragement to move on from public or private mistakes
• Want to hear a raw, uplifting account of resilience and redemption
• Appreciate honest conversations about the messy, beautiful journey of healing and personal growth

For Good Podcast
“Where we focus on the good, never the bad. Where we’re measured by what we do, not what we have.”