Catching Up with Leslie Jordan
Standing four feet 11 inches tall, Leslie Jordan is a queer icon who has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood.
From appearing in several TV shows and films like American Horror Story and Call Me Kat, to winning an Emmy for his role as Karen Walker’s frenemy Beverly Leslie in NBC’s Will & Grace, Jordan will forever be known for his unapologetically femme personality, thick Southern drawl, sweet nature, and witty one-liners. Now, he can add social media influencer to his extensive resume.
When the pandemic caused the world to go on lockdown in March 2020, the actor and singer began to post comedic insights into quarantine life. Jordan provided laughs when they were needed the most and amassed a strong social media following. After watching his videos, it’s no wonder why millions want to be a part of his world.
OFM caught up with Jordan to talk more about achieving viral fame and his projects from the past year.
Can you begin by telling us more about the “LG Laundry Dance Lab” campaign you were recently involved with?
Well, it was presented to me, and it just looked like so much fun. It’s their new stackables; they call it the LG Wash Tower, and I had seen a couple of the ads on television where they’re dancing and putting in their laundry. It’s a lot of fun, and they’re really pushing it like that. You can dance, there’s more space in your laundry room—chores shouldn’t be boring.
It just so happens that I was in New York, and they called saying, “Could we possibly get him out to New Jersey for the day?” I said, “Oh honey, I don’t go to New Jersey, not even for the day” (laughs). They insisted on getting me out there, and it was actually where LG the company is. So, we went, and we just spent the day being silly. It was a lot of fun. I kept saying, I don’t know if I want to do commercials. My agent goes, “Have you turned on the television lately?” In my day, actors would be reluctant to do commercials. Then they would start seeing those checks and go yes, honey! I do commercials!
Since the pandemic began, you achieved viral fame on Instagram, and you are now moving into the world of TikTok. Did you ever think you would become a social media influencer?
Never. I stepped off the bus in 1982 in downtown Hollywood wanting to be in movies. Being a social media influencer was never on my list. It’s interesting because I was in Tennessee right before the pandemic started, and I told my mother, I bet they’re going to make us stay home. She didn’t believe they would, but they sure did! So, I decided to stay in Tennessee during that time.
I didn’t even know the word “content,” but now, I wake up thinking, I’ve got to come up with some content. I would get up and do two Instagram posts a day. I was a marketing genius and didn’t even know it. I remember thinking, I’m not going to talk about religion; I’m not going to talk about politics, and I’m not going to try and sell anybody anything. I’m just going to do funny.
My phone rang one day, and my friend said, “Honey, you’ve gone viral.” I said “No, I don’t have COVID! I’m fine!” They’re like, “You went viral on Instagram!” I went from 80,000 followers to up near six million. Can you believe that? What on Earth? It’s explicable. I don’t know how this all works. This one shows that one, and that one shows this one. Then they started sharing my stuff on TikTok. Now, I only joined TikTok the other week. My loyalty is to Instagram, but people were like, ‘You can do both! It’s social media!’
What have you found to be some of the perks and challenges of creating social media content?
The challenge is, like I said, just coming up with content. I don’t ever want to just seem contrived. My brand is just me talking about whatever’s going on in my life. I don’t have any help, at least not yet. I will sometimes get up and make two or three posts, and then during the day, I’ll look them over and see which ones are funnier. I try not to redo because when you redo, then you’re acting out what you did earlier. No matter how poor the camera work is or anything, I try to get that one funny moment.
I just want people to enjoy it. I get people stopping me in the store and everything saying, “I check in with you at least once a day for a laugh.” Things are so tough right now, and I think, wow! That’s the power of comedy, which is what I do. That is what I do best. I’m kind of rethinking that part about not selling anything to people (laughs).
Trust me, people would definitely buy it.
I do have a little merch store with all my stuff, so we’ll see!
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Earlier this year, you released your gospel music album Company’s Comin’ and made your debut at the Grand Ole Opry. What was that experience like?
It was beyond. This wasn’t anything I planned or dreamed about, and I can’t even go back and tell you how it came about. It just happened. I worked with my friend Travis Howard, who knows so much about the music industry. He and his partner Danny Myrick came up with a list of people they thought would like to sing hymns with me. From Dolly Parton to Eddie Vedder, not one person said no. They were like, “Yes, I’ll sing a hymn with him!”
I think it’s because with hymns, no matter what your religion is, these old hymns go back to the 1800s, and the words are still so relevant today. We would jazz them up, add some bluegrass, brought in horns to give it a kind of Motown sound—it was truly one of the most enjoyable projects I have done thus far.
You also just released a version of “Little Drummer Boy” with Cheyenne Jackson. Is this the first holiday music you have ever worked on?
Yes, it is. I have been playing some of my stuff for Mayim Bialik, and because she’s an observant Jewish girl, she doesn’t know this music at all. I’m like, “You didn’t grow up with this?” She loves it because of how good the music is, and it’s nice to be working on a Christmas album. I hope it kind of transcends that so everybody can enjoy it.
How do you typically celebrate the holidays?
My mother was the baby of seven, and my daddy was the baby of four. So, they both came from pretty big families, and we used to have huge Christmas celebrations. Daddy’s side, mama’s side, back and forth. The only ones left now are me, my twin sisters, and my mother. We are the only ones, but it’s kind of nice because it’s just us. This year, we decided to rent a place on Tybee Island. We usually stay in Tennessee where it’s cold, but my mother wanted to go somewhere warm. Tybee Island is right outside of Savannah, Georgia, so we’re going to have an out-of-town Christmas this year. We’ll see how that works.
One of your more recent TV appearances was guest judging on The Masked Singer. How much fun was that?
Like my gospel album, this came out of nowhere as well. I didn’t plan this either. They had asked more than once for me to be a contestant and sing under a costume, and I thought, I’m just too lazy for that (laughs). That sounds like a lot of work. Then they called back and asked if I would come on as a guest. I said alright, but they snuck one in on me by asking if they could trot me out as an ice cream cone. See? I knew they were going to try and get me in one of those damn costumes! But everything about being on that show was so enjoyable.
Do you have any goals or resolutions for 2022?
You know, I have achieved probably everything that I set out to achieve when I got to Hollywood in 1982. Career-wise and personal. Everything from here on out is kind of gravy, which is wonderful. I don’t make it like I’m going to try to do this or be better at this. I am just going to take it a day at a time and be the best I can be. That seems to be a much better plan to me. I could probably make a list of ways to better myself, but once you get into your late 60s, it’s like, this is it. You’ve got to do with what you got and be the best you can be.
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Are you still trying to marry Max Greenfield?
Yes! I am guest hosting an episode of Ellen, which will air December 21, and he’s going to be my guest. I’m going to ask him to marry me on the air. Problem is, I adore his wife and children. I don’t want to be a homewrecker!
Before we wrap up, do you have any other upcoming books, comedy tours, film, or TV projects in the works?
I don’t, which is interesting. We have Call Me Kat, which was picked up for 18 episodes, and I’m trying to whittle it down to just that. When you’re doing a series, it takes a lot of work. Twelve hour days Monday through Friday. Hopefully, I can take some of this Call Me Kat money and buy a little pony farm. I got some land in Nashville, and I’ll go there for a couple months out of the year.
Stay up-to-date and connect with Jordan by following him on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, or visit his official website.
Photos Courtesy of Leslie Jordan
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