Movies Features

Keke Palmer talks Joyful Noise

By Anne Brodie Jan 21, 2012, 13:08 GMT

The small town of Pacashau, Georgia, has fallen on hard times, but the people are counting on the Divinity Church Choir to lift their spirits by winning the National Joyful Noise Competition.  The choir has always known how to sing in harmony, but the discord between its two leading ladies now threatens to tear them apart.  Their newly appointed director, Vi Rose Hill (Latifah), stubbornly wants to stick with their ...more

Fifteen year old Keke Palmer’s big voice may be an indicator of a big career.  The Midwesterner, whose family pulled up roots to move to LA on Queen Latifah’s advice, stars opposite her idol in Joyful Noise as her daughter Olivia.

Dolly Parton’s onboard too, as her beau’s mother and fellow choir member.  Mother and daughter try to iron out those touchy issues of adolescence while preparing to compete at a national gospel competition. 

Parker belts out tunes from here to eternity with effortless ease and she has a nice juicy actors’ arc to navigate including young romance, the stress of competition and the wisdom of striving. 

And that isn’t all, with her solid resume of TV and film appearances, from Degrassi to Law and Order, Akeelah and the Bee to the Medea films and the upcoming Ice Age: Continental Drift Palmer’s further expanding her influence. She’s just signed to produce and star in a film with Nick Cannon. 

Monsters and Critics spoke with Palmer from New York.

M&C: You sing with such power and passion.  How old were you when you realized you had this gift?

Palmer: When I was five I did a lot of musicals in school, and the piano teacher always picked me to do the leads and that made me think maybe I can sing.

M&C: How much training have you had? 

Palmer: A few classes, nothing consistent never had any.  I’ve never sung gospel before, but I sang in church.  I’m Catholic so my music was traditional. But my pianist wanted us to watch Sister Act 2 to liven up our music!

M&C: Just like in the movie! Did Dolly and Latifah give you tips?

Palmer: No.  They always taught me by example.

M&C: What’s Olivia like besides the fact that she can sing and she’s discovering boys?

Palmer: She’s well-adjusted and she’s a good girl, and her mother instilled great morals and values.  She’s a good kid but ready to be her own person.  Her mother has to trust that all the things she’s taught her took. Olivia’s mother is so scared for her to go into the world because of the judgements she had.

Olivia is a good girl though; this isn’t the struggle of an adolescent. Olivia is a sweet girl but she is playful and flirtatious like any teenaged girl – that’s her version of being.  She respects her mother and that’s how she is.

M&C: Queen Latifah is responsible for your career because she suggested you move to California.  Was that scary?
 
Palmer: Definitely it showed how much my parents believed in me that we moved to LA. It was scary for them but not for me.

M&C: Is the film faith based?

Palmer: It’s really good and uplifting and funny and it’s not one note.  We’re not shoving gospel down throats and we’re not suffocating by religion and faith.  It’s about hope but not in an aggressive way.  

People will come to see the film for the gospel or they love Dolly if Queen Latifah or they like me.  I think we’ll get those people because they go in and they’ll see it’s not actually about gospel.  It’s about coming of age and different things going on.  You won’t feel pressed by the gospel.

M&C: You are an accomplished actor with an impressive resume and you’re now producing a movie with Nick Cannon.  First of all how’s he doing after his surgery?

Palmer: He’s doing so goods. I sent him a note and said I hope you feel better and he said thanks and I appreciate it.

M&C: What’s the film?

Palmer: It’s a take on the Cinderella story.  I am the prince and he’s the princess.  It’s a cute story and when Nick came to see me about producing it and starring in it, I knew I wanted to do it and put my stamp on it. 

M&C: How busy do you get before you need to take time out?

Palmer: I try not to think about it and focus on other things. I try not to worry myself too much.

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