The Bert Show: Vault – Will Smith Joins The Show

Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Bert (and The Bert Show crew)
Guest: Will Smith
Episode Theme:
Will Smith joins The Bert Show for a candid and entertaining discussion about his approach to fame, his relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith, family, his music career, and handling the spotlight with integrity and humor. The interview touches on how he sustains authenticity and positivity in entertainment, fatherhood, honesty in relationships, and his new album, "Lost and Found."

Episode Overview

This special vault episode features a lively and honest conversation with Will Smith. The hosts and Will dive into his relationship philosophy with Jada, their approach to family life in Hollywood, Will's thoughts on honesty, fame, and creativity, and insights into his music and the new album. Will's signature warmth and humor make the discussion engaging, delivering both wisdom and plenty of laughs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Will Smith on Openness with Fans and Fame

[02:28 – 03:51]

• Will discusses why he is accessible to media and fans after his projects:
  • Quote: "To me it’s important to feel connected... I don’t be doing too much stuff. I don’t have a lot to hide...main thing is trying to create that relationship where people feel connected." — Will Smith [02:56]
• He credits "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" with fostering personal connections between stars and audiences.

2. Relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith

[03:51 – 07:10]

Handling Fame and Attention

• The hosts ask Will about dealing with attention from fans and the strength of his marriage:
  • Quote: "Our relationship with one another is 100% truth and honesty. So it’s not really an issue, really, when people feel those feelings...When people are feeling insecure...that’s because there isn’t the 100% purity of truth in the relationship." — Will Smith [04:10]
• Pure honesty and open dialogue are described as the centerpiece of their trust.
• Memorable Moment: Will jokes about being on Bert’s wife's “get out of jail free” list. [01:55 – 02:20]
  • Bert: "You are on my wife's get out of jail free card..."
  • Will Smith: "Look, you know, we get off of the air. You can just give me that number..."

Celebrating Anniversaries and Avoiding Expectations

• Will shares they don’t celebrate specific holidays to avoid disappointment:
  • Quote: "You expect too much on the day. It's almost impossible to succeed on your anniversary, or it's impossible to succeed on Valentine's Day..." — Will Smith [05:53]
  • Instead, he surprises Jada with spontaneous, meaningful moments (like an unexpected Valentine’s week in Hawaii).
  • Hosts jokingly thank Will for “setting the bar so low” for the rest of them. [06:44–06:52]

Navigating Professional Jealousy

• They avoid professional jealousy by being clear about their different approaches:
  • Jada works for projects she’s passionate about and doesn’t care for the “hustle.”
  • Will enjoys both the artistry and the challenge of interactions in his work.
  • Quote: "Jada is very clear that she does not want to have to do the stuff that I have to do...she’d hate to be in a situation where she has to work and doesn’t like who she’s working with. For me, I’m into the artistry..." [07:34]

3. Family Life and Raising Kids in the Spotlight

[08:23 – 09:34]

• Fan “TC” asks about keeping children out of the limelight.
  • Will says they respond to each child’s personality and wishes:
    • His oldest wants to be on TV and is working for Access Hollywood, while his younger son avoids attention.
    • Quote: "It's really more about their personalities and what their desires are, more than it is Jade and I trying to, you know, force them in or out of anything." [08:54]

4. Clean Lyrics and Hip-Hop Credibility

[09:34 – 11:42]

• Will’s approach to clean lyrics praised by fan:
  • Quote: "I don't think that, you know, truly intelligent people necessarily need to communicate in that way...the F word will fit somewhere real good every once in a while..." — Will Smith [09:58]
• Does Will lose hip-hop credibility for being “clean”?
  • He thinks his divide from hip-hop is more due to his acting success and being unable to devote full attention to music:
    • Quote: "If I'd had the time to focus and truly be in the music...then I wouldn't have had to let the actor in me slit the throat of the rapper." — Will Smith [10:46]

5. Movies vs. Music: Will’s True Passion

[11:42 – 12:10]

• If he had to choose, he'd give up acting over music:
  • Quote: "There’s nothing that compares to being on stage in front of 50,000 people...nothing in the entire business of entertainment that compares with that." — Will Smith [11:50]

6. Hosting and Working with Jada

[12:10 – 13:08]

• Will and Jada to co-host the BET Awards, but generally avoid working together on film/TV:
  • Feels there’s social significance in hosting together but keeps work separate otherwise.

7. The New Album: “Lost and Found”

[13:08 – 15:08]

• First album in three years; features more unfiltered Will:
  • Quote: "It’s the first album where I really just said everything that I thought and felt...I sort of released, and I just allowed myself to say exactly what I think and what I feel." — Will Smith [13:21]
  • Features Mary J. Blige, Snoop, and Ludacris (as producer).
  • Highlights track “Mr. Nice Guy,” where Will responds to critics:
    • Quote: "Usually I sort of turn a deaf ear to that stuff, but I allowed myself to go ahead and respond." [13:21]
• When asked if this boldness will surprise fans:
  • Quote: "Lyrically I'm better than I've ever been before...there’ll be no way to front on rhyme for rhyme, lyric for lyric, what I'm saying..." — Will Smith [14:43]

8. DJ Jazzy Jeff & Classic Collaborations

[15:08 – 15:43]

• They’ve recently performed together in South Africa and London; warming up for a Stateside return.
• Jeff appears on the new album, producing the first track and featured on two more.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On honesty in love:
  "When you tell somebody the truth and you’re not concerning yourself with how they feel about it...they know for certain that when you say something, it’s as if God said it." — Will Smith [05:08]
• On being comfortable in your skin:
  "I don’t have a lot to hide...there was that one night in Vegas, but other than that..." — Will Smith [02:56]
• On setting the bar high:
  "Thanks for setting the bar so low for the rest of us." — Host [06:44]

Important Timestamps

• 01:47 | Will Smith joins the call
• 02:28–03:51 | Will on accessibility and fans
• 04:10–05:08 | Relationship honesty/philosophy with Jada
• 05:53–06:47 | How Will & Jada celebrate anniversaries
• 07:34–08:23 | Professional jealousy and different approaches to fame
• 08:54–09:34 | Parenting, kids and the spotlight
• 09:58–10:46 | Clean lyrics & hip-hop credibility
• 11:50 | Would choose music over film
• 12:16–13:08 | Working with Jada, BET Awards
• 13:21–15:08 | Details about "Lost and Found"
• 15:16–15:34 | DJ Jazzy Jeff’s involvement
• 15:43 | Conclusion

Tone & Style

True to The Bert Show’s reputation, the conversation is upbeat, irreverent, and honest. Will Smith is warm, candid, and playfully self-deprecating, offering wisdom about relationships and art while also landing punchlines with the hosts.

Summary prepared for listeners wanting an in-depth catch-up with Will Smith’s 2026 Bert Show appearance.