LeToya Luckett: 'If I Didn't Have My Faith, I Wouldn't Be Anywhere!'

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LeToya LuckettLeToya Luckett is a founding member of Destiny's Child who saw her life change when she and group member LaTavia Roberson were ousted from the group in 1999 while promoting their chart-topping CD 'The Writing's on the Wall.'

Destiny's Child continued with Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland, and the group's manager, Matthew Knowles, replaced Luckett and Roberson with Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin (who only lasted five months).

Things weren't easy following the fallout from Destiny's Child – there was a media firestorm, lawsuits and a whole lot of backlash – but the 28-year-old singer said it was her faith that helped her overcome the tumultuous time in her life.

After a failed attempt at launching a new group called Angel, Luckett landed a solo deal of her own in 2003 and released her debut CD, 'LeToya,' on Capitol Records in 2006.

With one platinum-certified CD under her belt, the Houston-based singer is back with her recently released sophomore opus, 'Lady Love.'

I had dinner with Luckett recently at Carolina Kitchen in Hyattsville, Md., and the singer candidly discussed life after Destiny's Child, whether she would reunite with her former group and having high-profile relationships.

You've become a poster child for second chances and overcoming adversity. Is that a lot of pressure?

I don't mind it. There are so many people out here in this world with that type of story who we never hear about because they are in different corners of the Earth. I am pretty sure that they have probably been through worse than I've been through and achieved it. They've been able to cross that bridge and get through the fire without being negative, stepping on somebody's neck or bad-mouthing somebody. I love when people come up LeToya Luckettto me and say things like that.

What was the greatest lesson learned from your experience with Destiny's Child?

Communication is very key, along with looking out for yourself.

Would you ever write a book about those experiences, particularly as a cautionary guide for people who aim to be in this business?

You could, especially in a group situation. For girls and guys, if you're in a group situation, you have to know that you have to be a team player. It's just like an NFL or NBA team. You have to have that mentality, and you have to throw the ball to somebody else sometimes. A lot of people view it as a stepping stone instead of thinking about the group first. I've talked to several girl groups before and told them that they have to stick it out. I don't know if I would write a book. I know LaTavia, one of the other group members, is writing a book. I don't know if it will be about our experience, but I know it will be about her life. I'm pretty sure she's gonna mention something.

Would you reunite with Destiny's Child if the opportunity presented itself?

I wouldn't mind it. All of us would have to be on the same page about everything. The respect would have to be there for everyone. We would have to know that we're going out there to do this for the fans and that's it. I don't know.

Would it have to be the original quartet or would you do it as a quintet?

It would need to be about eight of us [laughs]. But I would love to be out there on stage with the girls again and have that time. It's been about 10 or 11 years.

You've been in some high profile relationships.

I have?

Yeah. You dated one of the twins from Jagged Edge.

That was high profile? That was like a teen love thing.

LeToya Luckett

Yeah, but it was in the media a lot during that time. Then you dated Slim Thug and the Washington Wizards player Deshawn Stevenson. Is it hard having the press talk about your relationships?

It's really weird. I'm like, "How do you know my personal business, and why is it in my Wikipedia?" There's nothing you can really do about it. You try to keep things as personal as you can. I'm not a big talker so you just have to keep things personal.

What's the craziest thing you've ever read about yourself on a blog?

One timOriginal Destiny's Childe, someone said I was engaged, and I was like, really? That's probably the craziest. I had a ring on, and I guess anytime you wear a ring on this finger then you're engaged.

I know that you're a member of Joel Osteen's church in Houston. You Tweet about it on Twitter. Why is it important for you to make people aware of how significant your faith is?

That's the best question anyone has ever asked me. Everybody always wants to talk about negative things, but that is real. I watch Joel Osteen online. I also get his podcasts so I can get video from iTunes. When I'm at home, and it's Saturday, I'm either leaving Saturday night to get to Houston or getting on a 6 a.m. flight to get back to church. It's a must.

Did you lean on your faith to get you through that challenging time after Destiny's Child?

If I didn't have my faith, I wouldn't be anywhere. I don't even want to think about it. Whenever I'm going through that moment, I call up my prayer sisters. At the end of the day, it's not that bad. Every day that you have a chance to wake up and breathe and have another opportunity at life, nothing that comes against you can be that bad. You just have to be able to pray your way through it and ask God for strength, wisdom and knowledge to move forward. It happens when people allow worldly things to make them happy. It's like is that the epitome of success because you have that kind of car? What if you don't have any love or there's no faith? That's not real happiness to me.

But through it all, you recorded a platinum CD and now you're promoting your sophomore album.

I'm still in awe about that. I can't believe that. I still can't believe that. Now we're on the sophomore album, and I can't believe that either. It just goes to show that if you work hard, keep God first and stay prayed up, then things will happen.

'Lady Love' was delayed a few times

It was a whole lot.

What caused the multiple release-date changes?

We went through a merge with Capitol, so everything came to a screeching holt. That's why it took so long for me to come out. We were putting things in place, but that's when I did the movies. It was crazy, because at the very last minute, I went and recorded at Capitol studios. And one after another, the songs started coming out. We were in this little tiny room, and we would just get to work. It was just an amazing process.

How much of what he hear now on this CD remained from the initial release date you had scheduled?

It changed a whole lot. 'Lady Love' was the first song that I ever cut for this album. 'Don't Let Me Get Away' was one of the first songs. That's it from the original first set of songs. Everything else was brand new.

I understand you're single now. What does it take for a man to get with you?

Everybody wants love. Some can't get it, some don't appreciate it, some are just open to the opportunity to have it. It's just one of those things. I'm in love with myself. I'm on the market. You should get the 'Lady Love' album and listen to the song called 'Good to Me.' It's not that hard. I need a friend and somebody who is spiritually connected. I need to be able to be any kind of way in front of you -- a mess, hair wrapped, rollers -- and you still think the world of me.

*****

For more information on LeToya Luckett, go to www.letoyaonline.com.

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Black Music Notes Mar. 19

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    3/19/09: Chester Gregory
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    Kevin Winter, NCLR / Getty Images

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