Cyndi Lauper's Detour Tour Comes to Florida

Cyndi Lauper first broke onto the scene in 1983 and has enjoyed enduring popularity, even three decades later, because she identifies with us, and we identify with her.

She is a genuine artist with a caring soul, and she puts her money where her mouth is, donating wisely to progressive causes and entering the non-profit world so she can actively work to make the world a better place. When she broke onto the scene, she was "so unusual" because she rejected labels and behaved the way she liked. Her most recent album, Detour, is another attempt to buck labels: for the first time, Lauper performs an entire album of country hits from the 1940s through the 1960s.

She is currently on the Detour Tour, which promotes her country music album. She will be making four stops on her tour in Florida: Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on Wednesday, June 8 at 8 p.m.; the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando on Thursday, June 9 at 8 p.m.; Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton on Saturday, June 11 at 8 p.m.; and the St. Augustine Amphitheater in St. Augustine on Sunday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be bought by locating your desired tour date at Cyndi Lauper's tour website at cyndilauper.com/events. Ticket prices start at $43.75 per person (Clearwater) and $39.50 per person (Orlando, Boca Raton, St. Augustine). VIP options are also available for some tour dates; for more information, visit Lauper's tour website.

I would like to thank Cyndi Lauper for taking the time out to tell me about her tour and speak about her career and her support of LGBT equality in this exclusive Hotspots interview.

Welcome to Florida! What do you think is unique about the gay scene here?

I used to love Warsaw in Miami and Copa in Fort Lauderdale. I have been to Score and Twist a few times too. There was another club called Bash in Miami that my friend Mick Hucknall owned that was a lot of fun, great music. I just love the mix of locals and world travelers at all of these clubs...especially in Miami.

Please tell us about your upcoming Florida shows. What can people expect? Will we hear offerings from your recent Detour album?

I will do all my hits... I mean, what's a Cyndi Lauper show without them? I will do some other fan faves and of course some songs from the new CD, Detour. I have some cool new visuals on this tour too. You are going to have to come and see the rest for yourself. Go out and get a ticket!

On your "Detour" album, the songs come from an earlier time in country music. You worked with a diverse list of country artists, including younger women like Alison Krauss and Jewel. How did their styles enhance these older songs?

I found this recording of "Cowboy Sweetheart" by Rosalie Allen. She was such a great yodeler. At first I was going to yodel for this track. So I did a little yodel while I was singing. Then I decided to text Jewel, because I know that Jewel yodels. I thought it would be cool for me to be singing and then I say, "Take it, Jewel!" She can yodel like anything, so I thought it was great. With Jewel yodeling, come on, it made the song more authentic to the original production! Ha!

Emmylou Harris is a friend and I called her for some advice on the record and then I just asked her to join me on a track. Her voice is so stunning, and she knew all the musicians from my band there, and she let me know that Vince [Gill] is one of the funniest, nicest, most talented men. So it was fun to see those interactions. In the studio with him, I had so much fun. He's a kind-hearted, very giving guy. Just a pleasure to be around.

Willie [Nelson] was awesome. He had been recording all day for his own CD, and still managed to save time for me. He came in, I played him the track... it was a song he wrote and recorded and he said he liked my take on it... that made me feel pretty great. When he laid down his parts, it was pretty magical.

I really didn't know Allison [Krauss] before these sessions. We have a lot of friends in common and she sings like an angel. I've always just loved the way she sings, so to have a chance to sing with her was just awesome.

I just can't believe they are all on my record. They all brought their own great sound and style to my record like a gift.

Are there any genres of music that you would like to pursue in future recordings, possibly in an album?

My next studio CD will consist of new material. I just haven't had time because I'm writing for a new musical. Once I finish that I will start writing songs for my next CD, but I try not to think of genres or songs when my new CD is just out. I'm excited for it!

We're big fans of the True Colors Fund here at Hotspots. I'd like for you to tell us what it has accomplished recently, and how people can get involved.

When up to 40% of all homeless youth identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, yet only up to 7% of the general youth population does the same, you have an epidemic. These kids are being thrown out or forced out of their homes at an alarming rate. So, the True Colors Fund launched the Forty to None Project after spending a year traveling the country and really learning about the issue and the solutions that were needed.

There was a significant void on the national level, there has never been a national organization whose sole focus has been on addressing gay and transgender youth homelessness. The Forty to None Project fills that void with our education, advocacy, empowerment, capacity building and inclusion programs, as well as research. There is a lot of work to be done and we welcome everyone to get involved and learn more at fortytonone.org. This is a fixable problem and we can do it together.

You've spoken out against the anti-gay bills that have been passed into law in states like North Carolina. What do you think society should do to get together to fight off these pieces of legislation?

What matters is that everyone takes a stand against House Bill 2 the best way they know how. By performing in North Carolina, I feel it's the best way that I personally know how to fight back. It is what I have always strived to do, which is show up for my family, friends, and fans in the LGBT community. I look forward to going to North Carolina and doing what we can to repeal this disgraceful law.

Reader Question: We (the gays) have loved you for so long. When did you decide to become an advocate for LGBT rights?

I am family and friend. My sister, other family and friends are part of the community. Where I come from, if you see your family and friends' civil rights being taken away, you speak up and do everything you can to keep that from happening.

Reader Question: Which songs of yours are your favorites, and why? (I have trouble deciding which one is my favorite!)

Me too. I have a lot of favorites as they all remind me of a special moment in my music career. So no, I cannot pick just one. [laughs]

Here's one reader question that you answered earlier on. Please tell us more. "Do you have any plans to return to Broadway with another musical?"

Yes. I'm writing songs for a new show as we speak. These things take time; "Kinky Boots" took over three years from when I wrote the first song to the day it opened on Broadway. There's a lot getting a show up and running for Broadway.

Reader Question: We are all going to miss Prince. Can you share your most memorable interaction with him?

He was magic to me. His music and his musicianship, his songwriting. Just so very talented. Beyond talented. He was one of a kind and I know people throw that phrase around a lot but it was true about Prince. He was also brilliant and had an amazing sense of humor. He gave me good advice a few times and I always took it. He also asked me not to cuss so much, and I'm working on that. He said cussing takes power away from the rest of your words, and he is right.

After you finish your Florida shows, what is in store for you later this year?

We go to Europe right after the first U.S. leg, which ends in Florida. I'm going to take some down time in August and also put aside time to write for the musical I mentioned earlier. After the second U.S. leg, I will got to Australia to work with the "Kinky Boots" cast and be there for the opening there. In November I will continue writing the musical, and on December 3 we will be doing our annual Home for the Holidays concert at the Beacon for LGBT Homeless Youth. I'll be touring in Japan and Australia in March and April 2017. "Kinky Boots" is keeping me quite busy and the new musical will, too. "Kinky Boots" is opening in Australia, Japan, Germany, and Sweden and is already in Toronto and Seoul, so I need to stay on top of that. Of course I have my family to take care of as well, so it's a pretty full life.

For more information on Cyndi Lauper, visit cyndilauper.com. "Detour" is on sale now from Sire Records, a daughter company of Warner Music Group.

"Like" Cyndi Lauper on Facebook at facebook.com/officialcyndilauper