Patti LaBelle, at 82, asserts, “I Should Be Called Legend,” and her 60-year career serves as a testament to this assertion
At 82, Patti LaBelle embraces her boldness without hesitation. In an interview with CBS News prior to her birthday, the music icon asserted that the term “legend” is not only appropriate—she is wholeheartedly embracing it. “I love it,” she said, laughing. “I ought to be referred to as ‘Legend, legend, legend, legend.’ Indeed. I absolutely adore it. I have earned it.
A Catalog Now Deserving of Double Celebration
Earlier this year, LaBelle completed a royalty agreement with the music rights firm Primary Wave, allowing them to receive income from her entire recorded catalog—18 studio albums and three live releases that span over six decades. Although the financial details remain undisclosed, the agreement positions her among an expanding list of prominent artists who have capitalized on their life’s work through catalog partnerships. It is a strategic decision that also serves as a declaration: this music is significant, and so is the woman behind it.
LaBelle’s journey spans from being known as Patsy Holt to becoming a Philadelphia Legend.
LaBelle was born Patricia Louise Holte, commonly referred to as Patsy, in Philadelphia, a city she continues to regard as the foundation of her identity. She openly admits that as a child, she was extremely shy, finding her voice not on a stage but in the solitude of her bedroom, singing into a broomstick. That intimate, personal ritual would ultimately lead to the emergence of one of the most influential voices in the history of American music. However, the journey between those two moments was far from smooth.
The Injury That Transformed into Energy
In the CBS interview, LaBelle reflected on a significant and painful memory: a record executive who remarked that she was “hideous” and urged her to reinvent herself with a new name. “It caused me pain, just complete, utter pain,” she remembered. Instead of shying away from the moment, she embraced it and remained steadfast in her identity. That refusal, grounded in her self-possession even before she had the words for it, became the cornerstone of a lasting career founded on authenticity.
Labelle, “Lady Marmalade,” & A Significant Cultural Landmark
As the frontwoman of the pioneering 1970s group Labelle, she played a crucial role in expanding the possibilities for Black women in popular music—dressed in theatrical attire, confidently bold, and performing on their terms. The group’s most significant hit, “Lady Marmalade,” emerged as a cultural landmark that transcended its time, captivating new audiences years later with its prominent remake featured on the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack by Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Pink, and Lil’ Kim. The original recording has been inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry, a recognition reserved for works considered culturally significant and deserving of preservation.
‘I Will Continue to Sing Until I Can No Longer Sing’
In addition to her musical career, LaBelle has established the Patti’s Good Life brand, which includes cookbooks, cookware, and food products, creating a successful second venture. For the woman who once sang into a broomstick in her childhood bedroom, performing is a passion she has no intention of leaving behind. “It’s never my last show,” she stated matter-of-factly. “I will continue to sing until I can no longer sing.” As someone who has dedicated over 60 years to dispelling skepticism, that statement feels more like a guarantee than a mere promise.
