The Breakfast Club

Episode: INTERVIEW: Breakfast At Patti LaBelle's For Christmas Eve With The Breakfast Club

Date: December 24, 2025
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee, Lauren LaRose
Guest: Patti LaBelle

Episode Overview

This festive Christmas Eve special welcomes the legendary Patti LaBelle into her own home—literally—for breakfast and a heartfelt conversation. The Breakfast Club crew visit Patti's kitchen for warm family vibes, cooking lessons, and reflections on her enduring presence in music and food. The episode explores themes of legacy, authenticity, entrepreneurship, and the deep emotions tied to food and family in Black culture, along with candid takes on ownership, the state of music and business, and facing misinformation in the AI age.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Patti’s Love for Both Cooking and Music

• Cooking as Passion & Spiritual Joy
  • Patti shares how cooking is not just a necessity but a spiritual, family-rooted ritual.
    • “I am more of a cook than a singer. So I enjoy—well, I enjoy both, but I say that I cook better than I sing sometimes.” — Patti LaBelle (07:51)
  • Cooking is about sharing: “When they leave, they're going to ask for a takeout container. And that I love more than anything.” (07:51)
• Passing Down Recipes
  • Patti isn’t stingy with recipes, passing them to family, but jokes, “They still can't do it like I do.”
• Cooking Favorites & Challenges
  • Her potato salad is always requested (even though it’s laborious).
  • Macaroni for her son Zuri, who insists she cook from scratch.

Food Legacy, Authenticity, and Business

• Patti’s Face on the Box
  • She insists on being the visible, authentic face of her products.
    • “I could have done that. But no, my face is better, period.” — Patti LaBelle (10:22)
  • Why? “When they see, ‘Oh, Patty, that’s my girl, she has food that we’re going to purchase.’” (10:28)
• Total Involvement and Ownership
  • Complete hands-on with recipes—products undergo multiple tests to match her taste.
    • “If there’s no Patty in the decision, there’s no food.” (10:46)
• Bridge Between Generations
  • Patti prides herself on connecting with both elders and youth. Everything is “from my heart,” which is why people trust both her music and food (11:41).
• Success in Retail Markets
  • Second only to Pearl Milling in major supermarkets (Walmart, Kroger, HEB)—showcasing Black excellence and presence in the food business (12:21).
• Ownership Lessons from Music to Food
  • Patti underscores the value of owning her brand/products—mirroring the importance of artists owning music masters (14:58).

Tour Life, Recognition, and Black Women Artists

• Still Touring
  • At 81, Patti remains busy on tour—both solo and with “queens” like Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan.
  • She discusses being top-10 in grossing urban tours, camaraderie among Black women artists, and being honored with “300 roses” from Kelly Rowland and Beyoncé (18:23).
• Lasting Impact & Industry Challenges
  • Patti reflects on the industry’s tendency to forget Black women:
    • “People forget black women quicker than they do white. So they’re forgotten for the reason is the color of their skin... But we still persevere because I know that I’m good.” (19:59)
  • She desires more equitable recognition compared to white counterparts, citing Celine Dion as an example (20:39).

Reflecting on Home, Family, and Rest

• Rooted in Philadelphia
  • “Philly is my jaw… I love Philly, and I’m gonna be here.” (25:07)
  • Patti values Philly's laid-back, authentic energy over “phony” LA.
• Family and Rejuvenation
  • Home and family help her recoup from the pressures of fame:
    • “Never do I say, leave me alone. I just close the door. So they know if I’m closing the door that it's like quiet time for me.” (26:01)

Looking Ahead: Documentaries, Biopics, and Longevity

• Documentary and Biopic in the Works
  • Patti confirms both are under way but won’t reveal who she thinks should play her (26:18).
  • Prefers candidates who sound like her over those who merely look like her—Fantasia is floated as a contender (27:08).

Addressing Rumors, Misinformation, and AI

• Fighting AI-Generated Lies
  • Deals with rampant online rumors (twins at 81, building a hospital, etc.)—often traced to AI-generated misinformation (28:55).
    • “All the AI stuff is not—it’s just disgusting. And when people believe it, it’s worse than that.” (29:17)
  • Jermaine Dupri’s idea of AI artists on separate charts is discussed; Patti’s response is blunt:
    • “They just need to shoot AI damn where, you know, and end it.” (29:38)
  • Reasserts the irreplaceability and craft of “real” artists (30:13).

Holiday Spirit and Signature Patti Hospitality

• Cooking For The Crew
  • Patti invites the hosts to her kitchen to make chicken and waffles (wings, at their request), continuing the tradition of connecting over food and love (30:58).
• Products Shouted Out
  • Listeners are reminded to find Patti's products at Walmart, Kroger, HEB, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, and Slim & Huskies (31:16).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Giving Her All:
  • “Everything I do, it’s from my heart… I would give food away, but now that it’s gonna sell, I’m not gonna give it away.” — Patti LaBelle (11:41)
• On Self-Respect:
  • “I know that I’m good. You know, I’m not… But let’s get a little even stuff going around every now and then, you know, that would be wonderful.” (19:59)
• On Facing Industry Bias:
  • “People forget black women quicker than they do white. So they’re forgotten for the reason is the color of their skin.” — Patti LaBelle (19:59)
• On Internet Rumors:
  • “At 81, I have twins. Twin. Real babies.” [joking about fake rumors] — Patti LaBelle (28:02)
• On AI in Music:
  • “They just need to shoot AI damn where, you know, and end it.” — Patti LaBelle (29:38)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Patti welcomes The Breakfast Club to her home & cooking talk: 04:10 – 05:45
• Passing down recipes & family cooking: 06:21 – 07:38
• Spiritual meaning of cooking & product authenticity: 07:45 – 11:13
• Business strategy & ownership: 14:52 – 16:32
• Touring and being honored: 16:37 – 19:29
• Reflections on inequity in recognition: 19:48 – 20:53
• Family, Philly & rejuvenation: 25:07 – 26:08
• Biopic, documentaries & casting dreams: 26:18 – 27:33
• Battling AI rumors & misinformation: 28:20 – 29:26
• Views on AI in the arts: 29:38 – 30:39
• Chicken & waffles cooking demo tease: 30:45 – 31:10
• Appreciation and closing words: 31:32 – 32:25

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode brims with warmth, gratitude, and playful humor, creating a sense of being welcomed right into Patti’s kitchen. There’s reverence for tradition but also wit and candor addressing both the realities of celebrity life and serious contemporary issues like misinformation. Above all, Patti’s authenticity, resilience, and generosity shine—making clear why she remains a beloved icon across generations.