Story by Jacinta Howard
Images by Benjamin Jones for Steed Media Service
As careers go, LeToya Luckett’s would make an enthralling “Behind the Music” special. Talented, but overlooked member of a high-powered, girl group? Check. Chart-topping singles? Check. Super dramatic group break up? Check. Remarkable comeback? Check.
Yes, Luckett’s story is full of highs and lows — yet, she remains incredibly balanced. A weaker person would’ve crumbled under the pressure. Or worse, allowed the industry to mold them into something foreign to themselves for a chance at success. But not LeToya.
“I got home training,” she explains, before bursting into giggles. “I guess that has a lot to do with it.”
After the Destiny’s Child drama settled, Luckett returned with a chart-topping album of her own. Lead by the emotive mid-tempo single, “Torn,” she promptly declared her independence with it. Luckett opened a couple of popular boutiques in her native, Houston (Lady L Boutique), and developed into the person that she is today — a bright, bubbly, sensitive woman who laughs easily and whose sense of self is solid as ever.
On the brink of releasing her sophomore solo album, Lady Love, which is defined by storytelling singles like “Not Any More,” Luckett is better than she’s ever been.
You’ve been through a lot in this business. What quality do you have that you feel has allowed you to push on and be successful?
I think just having a good base has allowed me to overcome. … It has a lot to do with character. A lot of times integrity comes across as a flaw [in this business]. A lot of times people don’t want to know who you are as a person, they want you to just make great music and bounce up and down and be cute. But I find that being humble, having integrity [and] treating people the way that you want to be treated, is very important. Also, being around my mom and my grandmother and other influential women in my life [helps]. I have so many great mentors, just strong women in my life that whenever I’m at a weak moment, [they] can just step in and be like, ‘Dust yourself off, put your head up and put your shoulders back — get it together.’ Just … [listening to] those women has definitely affected my personality and who I am.
What does success mean to you?
Success definitely is not the fame and fortune. Success is just being able to be in this music industry and still be sane. Having your family around and still being loved, that’s most important. Being able to go in the studio and make an album and then read how people still love your music and still can relate to it — that’s success.
In your solo career you’ve taken a very hands-on approach, why is that important?
Me being hands-on, that’s just ‘Toya. I hope I’m not a control freak! [Laughs.] But when you’ve been in this industry so long, you have to learn so that you can grow in this industry. It’s always changing, it’s never the same. First of all, God needs to be in the driver’s seat, but I’m in the passenger seat making sure that I’m learning and watching what He’s doing. Just take note of everything and realize that nobody is going to take your project as seriously as you are. So if you’re just letting people take control of your situation and it doesn’t come out right, you can’t be mad at nobody but yourself.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned since embarking on a solo career?
This stuff comes and goes. I’m in love with what I do and that’s very important, I’m still having fun with it. I know there [are] a lot of politics involved — and it kind of tanks everything — but it’s something that you can’t control. Just realize you’re blessed to do what you still love to do and able to profit from it. Just keep the naysayers out of your ear. Try to stay as positive as you can.
What was your childhood like?
Being brought up in this industry is a difficult thing. The good thing is you get a head start on everybody and you get to learn more. But my mom and grandmother have been very involved. My mom is part of management and she helped me open both Lady Elle locations. My grandmother is such a smart lady — and granny got swag. She’s [an] amazing and incredible woman. They both had a lot to do with my success, and they keep me grounded and humble.
What were you like as a kid?
As a kid, I talked a whole lot, I still do. [Laughs]. I was a lot of fun. I don’t think I really changed. I’m still goofy, I still laugh a lot, [and] I still love to have fun.
When did the misconception about you begin?
I think after the Destiny’s Child situation, because people didn’t know the story and we didn’t really put the story out there, people thought that LaTavia [Roberson] and myself left the group, and in no way is that true. Because of that situation, a lot of people are like ‘ugh’ when it comes to me. There have been producers and writers that are hesitant to get on my projects because of that drama that happened 10 years ago. And it’s kind of wack — you all haven’t even taken the chance to get to know me as a person, because if you did, hey, you might like me.
Do you still have a relationship with LaTavia and the Knowles family?
LaTavia, I just saw her, she’s just so beautiful and sassy. … As far as Beyoncé and the Knowles family, whenever I see them it’s always love, I always congratulate them.
What are you like in a relationship? Are you a giver or a taker?
I’m a giver in a relationship. I give too much sometimes but I love to give, it makes me happy to give. It excites me to be there when someone needs to cry on my shoulder, I love that, I live for that.
What qualities does your ideal man have?
My ideal man? I hope he’s coming soon. [Laughing]. My ideal man has to have a relationship with God. I’m sorry, I don’t really do atheist. He’d have strength, confidence … [and] swagger. Somebody that can make me laugh and have fun. I can’t stand when you go on a date with a guy and he looks like he’s not having fun.
What’s the deal breaker in a relationship?
No personality. And if you have body odor I can’t work with that.
What’s the best thing a man has ever told you?
The best thing a man has ever told me — this is going to sound crazy, it’s nothing sexual — but he told me, ‘You’re the best woman I’ve ever had.’ The thing is, in a lot of my relationships, I was friends with them first. … I just love having that friendship first, I think that’s important.
If you could raid anyone’s closet, whose would it be?
Victoria Beckham … yes ma’am, give it to me, because I’m coming in. I would raid Rihanna’s closet, I heard she’s house shopping. Don’t let me find out. I will be up in there — sticky fingers!
You’ve experienced a lot of success with your two Lady Elle Boutiques. Why was it important to you to start a business?
You gotta have an A, B and C plan nowadays. That was important to me, and fashion is something else that I love. It was funny because the idea got started because I would shop all the time and I had so many pieces that still had tags on them. When my girlfriends or mom would come to my closet, they’d be like ‘You have a boutique in here.’ So I thought hmm …
What survival tips would you give other business owners to help them weather the recession?
Have good marketing and mark down [your prices]. I know you don’t want to mark down, but you got to — [people] can’t afford it any more. I have high-end denim, but I have pieces that are more affordable.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I want to get into acting. My first … lead role will be in September, in a movie called The Preacher’s Kid. It’s a great family film. I also have other films in production. … I will have a family, a great husband and some beautiful kids — and I’m going to live somewhere with a nice big lake and some hills.
