She has been recognized in major fashion magazines like Vogue Magazine, Essence, and Vanity Fair, and has been named one of People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful People.” She said, “I always say beauty is really from the inside out, because it’s what we have within us that exudes, really, on the outer.”

Still holding the record as one of MTV’s most nominated artists for her David Fincher-directed video “Real Love,” Ms. Watley has amassed an impressive 32 Top Ten singles and 13 #1 singles combined, in pop, dance, R&B, and electronic music genres over the past three decades. Her multi-format hit singles include “Looking for a New Love” with the popular catch-phrase “Hasta La Vista (See you later) Ba-by,” “Don’t You Want Me,” and the ballad “Everything.” Her single “Friends” with Eric B and Rakim ushered a new era of featuring a rap artist with a singer. The highly active artist continues to share her inspiration through her live shows, new albums, and charity projects.

For Loving the Silent Tears, she represented the magnificent continent of Africa.

Ms. Watley shared her thoughts about her career and the show in media interviews, such as with The San Marino Tribune, More Magazine, The Examiner, PopStop TV, and California Adventure TV on KCAL-TV.

Q: You won a Grammy for Best New Artist. Could you tell us a little bit about that experience?

Jody Watley: Well, winning the Grammy is the pinnacle every singer dreams of. And to be named Best New Artist was probably the best music night of my life. So it’s a huge honor and as an artist, I think what it gave me was the confidence that being true to myself and being authentic, it paid off.

Q: Where do you get the inspiration for this incredible spread and depth of talent?

Jody Watley: It’s a journey of never settling and being satisfied, and always trying to do better. I write a lot [of songs] about love and being strong and wanting to empower women in particular.

Q: You have also appeared in Broadway, in theatre.

Jody Watley: I made my Broadway debut in the first musical I had done. I had the opportunity to play Rizzo in the very popular musical Grease and it was a great experience. And so when the opportunity presented itself for Loving the Silent Tears, I thought, “Well, this is fabulous. I didn’t think anything could be more fabulous than Grease. So, this will be my second stage endeavor, so I’m very looking forward to it.”

All of these people who attended The Real Love, the previous production, I’ve heard from them to say it was such an enlightening experience, as well. And so this one will be… I can’t say enough. I’m going to put 50,000% of myself into it.

Q: So in this musical, poems are going to be set to music, and they are poems by the Supreme Master Ching Hai. I’m looking forward to seeing that on stage. How about you?

Jody Watley: It’s like having words come to life. They range from enlightenment to peace… all of those messages are very important, and I think that the audience will leave inspired. Supreme Master Ching Hai, her humanitarian efforts really work toward a message of peace around the world. I think Loving the Silent Tears is another way to put that out into the universe and to spread that message.

Q: What are some aspects of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s poetry that stand out to you?

Jody Watley: Well, one thing, I’ve always been a thoughtful person. I’ve always loved poetry. I’m a songwriter and I grew up writing poems and reading poems. And I love to send cards to friends, to encourage them. And my friends always say, “You have a knack for always knowing something that is needed,” like a positive feeling, or just to be encouraging. And I get that from her poetry. It’s very uplifting and there are layers to it, because it is not absent of the despair that we all feel from time to time.

Q: Besides the musical’s beautiful themes and poetic source of inspiration, what else are you excited about for Loving the Silent Tears?

Jody Watley: What a great cast and collection of musicians, such a great diverse cast of Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Grammy-winning composers. Vincent Paterson, choreographer/director, really looking forward to working with him. He’s worked with Michael Jackson, Madonna. He did one of my favorite choreographed pieces with her. Everything that he does just is so memorable, classic, timeless. Everyone has a great resume, and so I am really looking forward to being a part of the collaborative process. The message, the magnificence, just to be a part of something this big, and the message of spirituality and love and peace – we need to be spreading that more. And so, it’s a must-see event.

Q: Has the show had any personal effect on you?

Jody Watley: I’m eating less meat. The aspect of veganism and loving – I love animals. I don’t eat a lot of meat anyway but maybe this was the universe’s way of pushing me more in that direction.

On stage, Jody Watley mesmerized the audience in an elaborate Africa-inspired costume, as Lula Washington Dance Theatre artists danced rhythmically around her and a chorus in Zulu language could be heard in between her exquisite singing. She described it as: “My scene ‘Africa’ near end of show, pivotal moment in storyline - a song about gratitude, very powerful moment.”

As the composer of Ms. Watley’s solo piece, Grammy winner Nan Schwartz, remarked, “I was so excited to know that one of my pieces for Africa is being sung by Jody Watley. I think she’s going to bring the perfect style and the perfect vibe to what I’ve written. So I’m excited to hear her interpret my song for Africa.”  

After the show, which received a standing ovation from the audience, fans posted their enthusiastic comments. For instance, Chris Keen wrote in reply to Ms. Watley, “Love the vegan theme to the event, too, Jody! Looked amazing and shows your constant evolution.”

Grammy-winning pop icon Jody Watley on the red carpet

Alicia Kaye wrote, “Bravo Jody! You looked stunning, sounded wonderful!!! The story was touching, moving, and the production was spectacular! I so wish I could have seen it live, my 5-year-old daughter would have loved it!”

This was followed by a note from Silawn Lewis, saying, “Jody, you looked so majestic tonight. I now understand why this production was a one-time only event. As Alicia stated, it was “spectacular”! I can’t imagine putting on a show of that magnitude more than once. So many amazing artists, beautiful set pieces and costumes, and I loved how the story wove through each performance. I hope a video will be available [online] so that I can share it with social networking sites including members of the positiveatmosphere.com site.”

It is said the magic of theatre is that the joy of it is simultaneously shared by both the performer and audience. This was certainly true for Ms. Watley who stated:

“Loving the Silent Tears - A New Musical is my favorite professional experience of 2012 and one of THE most fun, beautiful and rewarding of my career - and that’s saying a lot!”

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