Debbie Gibson: The Atlanta Interview

‘When you’re a child star you try to be normal,
but really, you’re a freak.’

With the premiere of Celebrity Apprentice tonight, we thought we’d look back at our interview with pop, Broadway and now reality star Debbie Gibson…

In 2005, Debbie called us from the set of her Playboy photoshoot, but we couldn’t say anything at the time because it was top secret. The next day, she hopped on a plane to Atlanta to perform at the Civic Center where we got to meet her backstage.

Now Debbie’s up against Teresa Giudice, Victoria Gotti, George Takei, Clay Aiken and more on Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice (dare we say this is the gayest season yet?), premiering tonight at 9 p.m. on NBC.

When did you first realize you had so many gay fans?

I started performing in gay clubs when I was 16. I’d do a teen club, a straight club and a gay club all in one night. The gay clubs always seemed to have the most receptive audiences.

I remember one time watching my mom collecting the ticket money from a huge, six-foot tall drag queen at a club in Miami and thinking, ‘I’m not in Long Island anymore!’

Why do you think gay audiences have been so receptive?

Gay fans seems to be the most loyal, they really stick with the stars and songs they love. I just performed at a club in West Hollywood the other night to a mostly gay audience, and they knew every word.

So why the name change from Debbie to Deborah?

My real name is actually Deborah. When I got my first record deal, they wanted to call me Debbie, so I went with it because I understood it from a business standpoint.

But after a while, it was strange calling myself something that wasn’t really my name, so I decided to go back to Deborah. It’s funny, because I’ve seen other stars do the same, like Joey Lawrence going back to Joseph.

Do you mind when fans still call you Debbie?

[Laughs]. No, I totally get it. I would never slap anyone for calling me Debbie.

Which do you like better, recording music or performing on Broadway?

(Gibson played Eponine in ‘Les Miserables’ on Broadway and starred in U.S. tours of ‘Grease,’ ‘Funny Girl,’ ‘Gypsy, ‘Cabaret,’ ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ ‘Chicago’ and ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.’)

There are pros and cons to both. To me, pop music is the ultimate freedom of personal expression. However, I can have a bad vocal night and a good vocal night, and the audience will scream just as loud. They just want the body on stage and the image.

In theater, you show up with a certain kind of dignity, knowing that not everyone can do it. It’s sort of like being an Olympic athlete: if you miss a day of training, you might hurt a vocal chord.

Of course, I love playing different roles and interpreting other people’s material. I sound very different on stage now than when I did ‘Out of the Blue.’ I’m a belty broad when I’m on stage!

What was your favorite Broadway show you’ve star in?

I love all of them, but I would say ‘Cabaret’ for a couple of reasons. The acting was something I could definitely sink my teeth into. Rob Marshall and Sam Mendez directed it, and everything about it was just amazing.

Would you say it was your most challenging role also?

‘Cabaret’ was challenging, but ‘Funny Girl’ was probably more challenging. All performers can identify with the curtain going up and having to go out there and smile and be on, even if you’re having a bad day. I loved telling that story… it was very me.

You were a judge on ‘American Juniors’ which was hosted by Ryan Seacrest during the first season of ‘American Idol.’ Was there any truth to a romance between you two?

[Laughs]. No, I was going through a really hard relationship with my boyfriend at the time, and I think the press just wanted to make a story up. ‘Star’ kept calling and wouldn’t leave us alone.

I know they probably had to make a story up for Ryan because he works so much. He’s so busy. I’ve actually never seen him outside of professional work.

Did you have flashbacks of your own career when you were judging the kids?

Oh God, yes. I tried to spend as much time with them off camera as I could. I started doing theater and commercials when I was five. When you’re a child star, you try to be normal. But really… you’re a freak. Other kids don’t understand why you have to go to work instead of to their birthday party.

So how did you stay sane? You didn’t get into trouble or spin out of control like other child stars.

You know, I’m so lucky to have grown into adulthood unscathed. I had a really good family. My sisters would be like, ‘We don’t care if you were out performing all night, it’s your turn to do the dishes.’

Also, I don’t think that was really in my nature. There was a lot of pressure for me to be edgy and cool and all of that, but I was into a very disciplined and kind of geeky mode. I made sure I was in bed on time, had my steam and steamed my throat.

I’m not sure that would be possible today with all the pressure that’s out there to be sexy.

Would you call yourself a diva today?

Well I think the world ‘diva’ is overused. If being a diva means you know how to command the stage and turn it on, then yes, I am a diva. If it means walking around with a bunch of attitude like you’re better than everyone else, then no.

I’ve shared the stage with a lot of performers. We should be able to support each other and all go out there and do our own thing.

Do you have any fond memories of Atlanta?

Oh yes, in 2000 I performed at the AIDS Walk in Piedmont Park. I sang ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone.’ That was a really special moment for me.

What project are you working on now?

Right now I’m working on something that’s a little provocative and something a lot of people wouldn’t expect me to do. I’m 34 now and comfortable with my own body, let’s put it that way.

Got any bottles of ‘Electric Youth’ perfume still lying around?

[Laughs]. I’m sure in a warehouse somewhere with all of my old tour costumes. It’s funny, because when you’re young and that stuff comes out, you don’t think about holding onto it. Now I’m seeing that people are making a fortune off of it on eBay!