Things You Won’t See: Stephanie Mills’ Story on “Unsung”

May 30th, 2012 - By madamenoire

Source: thesavvysistah.com

From BlackVoices.com 

Since its debut in 2008, TV One’s hour-long music series, “Unsung,” has been one of the network’s crown jewels, covering the sometimes tragic careers of an array of celebrated music acts such as Teddy Pendergrass, DeBarge, Teena Marie, Melba Moore, Alexander O’Neal, Minnie Ripperton and Phyllis Hyman. Earlier this year the NAACP Image Award-winning series earned its highest rated, most successful season to date as it started airing in 27 percent more homes via various cable carriers.

Though the African-American targeted network is set to premiere the show’s sixth season with Sly and the Family Stone on June 25, one veteran music act who viewers will never see on the series is Stephanie Mills.

The Brooklyn-bred songstress, who catapulted to the top of music charts in the 1980s and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Michael Jackson and Pendergrass after acclaimed stints on Broadway in “The Wiz” and “Maggie Flynn,” seems to have a story that’s ripe for “Unsung,” which is often considered “the black version of ’Behind The Music’ – VH1′s longtime biographical series.” But according to the sometimes reclusive Mills, the retrospective show is just not her cup of tea.

“I don’t like that show,” the Grammy Award winner revealed in a recent interview with The Huffington Post. “They have approached me quite a few times, but I [won't] do that show.”

“I’ve always been very private and at 55 I don’t want to open up my life to that,” the “Never Knew Love Like This Before” belter continued. “They’ve done Angela Winbush and they even wanted me to say something about her on that show, and I love Angela, we’re sisters. But I had to tell her, ‘I don’t want to do that.’ … I’m not that girl.”

Find out the other reasons Mills is not having it at BlackVoices.com. 

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  • ILuvUnsung

    Aww… man!!  That’s very unfortunate because I was hoping to see her Unsung episode.  When TVOne asks viewers who they would like to see, I always say her and Loose Ends, etc.  Oh well *sigh*

  • FromUR2UB

    It had never occurred to me that some people wouldn’t want to do the show, or might worry about how they would be perceived, until I heard Leroy ‘Sugarfoot’ Bonner on a radio interview after the Ohio Players’ episode.  He seemed a little embarrassed by the revelation of the money troubles they’d had.  But, I really don’t think viewers think any less of them for that, because most adults understand that entertainment is such an unpredictable business. 

    But, it is Stephanie Mills’ life, so I guess we should respect her desire to keep a piece of it only for herself.

    The only person who really made me think, “Ugh!” after watching her episode, was Mary Wells.  When someone marries into a family and has children, then has an affair with another family member and has a baby with that person, I just feel that ranks up there with “as sleazy as it gets”.

  • Tagirl

    “Unsung” is an amazing! It’s like course on the history of black music. I learn about so many past artists or things about artists that I am familiar with that I didn’t know. I can’t wait for a new season. But if Stephanie doesn’t want people in her business then that’s her business.

  • Ty

    It’s her choice whether or not to do the show, and I don’t blame her for wanting to maintain her privacy. But it would have been nice if she could have said something better than, “I don’t like that show.”  I feel that Unsung portrays artists in a positive light, so she could have worded her statement in a way that shows support for a black network trying to look out for its own, in my opinion.  Oh well, to each her own.

  • Eangel872003

    I think Unsung airs the show in a positive way- they’re not exploiting the artist-they’re just being real and allowing them to have a voice and express the truth of what has happend in their lives, Stephanie- its your choice whether or not to do the show- but geesh- get over yourself

    • LaLaLaMeansILoveYou

      Unsung for the most part does air the artists in a positive light, but look at it like this…their is absolutely no way ANY show can tell any artist’s true story in an hour episode (which will come to about 40 minutes minus commercials). After editing is finished there’s always some key part that will be left out. 

      Case in point, just youtube Shalamar’s episode of Unsung. Good show, right? Then youtube Jody Watley’s response to the episode (just a warning, it’s very long, she had to break it up into like 8 parts). When you see her get to tell her full side of what happened and realize how much Unsung left out (which kind of had her looking like a real “w”itch) you might understand why Stephanie may not want the same thing done to her. 

      When a celeb says “no” to something, it’s not always about egos or them needing to “get over themselves”, sometimes there’s a lot more to it than us mere mortals can see :)

  • Ladybug94

    I still love her music whether or not she does the show.  It’s her prerogative.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LKQE4UQRBBVNOIRAL4EB2SPCWI Jen

    I got what she’s saying but just watch…now that she says she’s not interested in airing any aspects of her life, there’s going to be tell all book from unamed sources, people that are “close” to her will divulge any info for cash, hell it may even be a relative.  I often wondered where she was and if she is still performing because I love her music.  If that is a current picture of her she looks great!

  • Vanee6

    Get over yourself Stephanie. I mean to each it’s own but in no way do I think it’s a bad show. I love that show and it def helps shed light on a lot of artist that have been forgotten or never got their just due. I appreciate those artist who are still alive and don’t mind doing the show. Her declining to do it is her business but she couldn’t even appear as a guest? It’s not that deep. I do love Stephanie and her music but have to disagree with her on this one!

    • jay bee

      Fame is a slippery slope and the moment you come out of seclusion, even just to talk about a sister friend, you do risk losing your privacy.  Once that’s lost it’s close to impossible to get back. While I’d love to see an episode on her, I don’t blame her for declining.

      • LaLaLaMeansILoveYou

        I agree, couldn’t have said it better. In this age of attention seeking, everybody and their mama getting a reality show, then their cousins getting a spinoff, it’s sooooo refreshing to see someone like “Nah, I’m good.”…then proceed to the stage (where we’d rather see them) to do what they do best and KILL it.

        I was always a fan hers but even more so after reading this article. 

      • Vanee6

        That’s true but she’s done interviews and even was on Oprah before. I’m just stating my opinion but yes she has every right to decline and maintain her privacy. I just don’t see speaking on Angela’s series being that big of a deal if they are bestfriends and like sisters. I still love her and her music though but I still disagree with her about Unsung not being a good show. That is all!!!!!!!! Good day folks!

  • Greybeard

    SHE STILL PERFORMS AND HER SHOW IS ONE OF THE BEST.

  • Rmdavis45

    I think that show is excellent I have enjoyed it thoroughly but I think a lot of these singers just don’t want the public too see the down side of them after their singing career is over.Many are living almost in poverty Sly Stone is one who just last year was living on the streets of L.A and I am sure that they will tell that part of his life then. some have been consumed by drug use and other trials like Vesta Williams and then there is the private side that  they would rather keep to themselves.

    • Tagirl

       I wasn’t familiar with Vesta Williams until “Unsung” butt it was an interesting story.

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