CINCINNATI (AP) - Nothing like a mega-hit to keep you busy.
Cee Lo Green, who flew back to Los Angeles this week to re-do “Forget You” as a benefit song for the nation’s volunteer firefighters, will return to Europe next week to resume a concert tour and then will tour this summer with Rihanna.
Fresh off his feather-bedecked Grammy Awards performance with Gwyneth Paltrow and Jim Henson puppets, Cee Lo also is part of the upcoming NBC music reality show “The Voice,” among other projects. He appeared in the recent Points of Light volunteer service gala attended by the four living former presidents, singing with Sam Moore of the classic Sam & Dave duo.
Before heading into the studio to record “Thank You” for Procter & Gamble Co.’s Duracell batteries’ firefighters campaign, the Atlanta-born singer-songwriter gave some quick comments on his popular “Gnarls Barkley” duo _ so dubbed as a parody of famous people’s names_ and his penchant for dressing up in outrageous costumes. Some excerpts:
AP: Are you related to Sam? And do you get asked a lot if you’re related to Al Green?
Green: No, I called him ’Uncle Sam’ as a tribute … I get asked that on Al Green. It kind of became a joke with my friends. (He’s not. His birth name is Thomas DeCarlo Callaway.)
Q: Christina Aguilera. Gwyneth Paltrow. Rihanna. Who’s the next woman you’re going to be performing with?
A: Oprah Winfrey. I’m going to do her show for the first time. Hopefully, it will be the start of a friendship.
Q: What’s the wildest or favorite costume you’ve dressed up in?
A: The most notable is going to be the Grammy show. That was an homage to Elton John’s 1977 performance of “Crocodile Rock” on The Muppet Show.
Q: Who’s your favorite Muppet?
A: Animal! (laughing).
Q: What’s your favorite reality TV show?
A: To be totally honest, I’m not really much of a fan of reality TV. I don’t really have one; I wish I did.
Q: Did you ever hear from Charles Barkley about the name?
A: We were going to have him accept an award with us, but it didn’t work out. He’s been a good sport about it.
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