Cheyenne Jackson is a Broadway veteran who has starred in All Shook Up and Xanadu. On the big screen he co-starred in the Academy Award-nominated film United 93 and on the small screen in Behind the Candelabra, Glee and 30 Rock.
He is now ready to show his personal and poignant side on I'm Blue, Skies his first CD of original music. The openly gay singer, songwriter and actor talked musical collaborations, working with Michael Douglas and the attention from female fans.
Windy City Times: I'm Blue, Skies is your first full-length CD of original music. Why was now the right time to release it?
Cheyenne Jackson: I have a lot of change going on; I have a lot of growth as a person. Music is everything to me and I've always written music, but I have never shared it. My muse and one of my best friends, Sia, was the catalyst for me focusing on my writing and sharing that. She and I started writing together and we wrote maybe five or six songs, three of which made it on this record. I have always written poetry and I have a way with melody and a hook but she helps me with threading that together and with streamlining and I found out I had the knack for it.
WCT: So how did you develop your songwriting?
Cheyenne Jackson: Through Sia's help I got somebody's attention at Sony/ATV Music Publishing and they signed me to a developmental artist writing deal. They paired me up with some great folks and some collaborations were magical where you know when you get in the room and you have an idea and it springs back and forth between each other and it's an electric thing.
WCT: Why the comma between the words "I'm Blue" and "Skies?"
Cheyenne Jackson: That's definitely on purpose and thought-out. There was a lot of thought about the comma and if it would be confusing. I have quite the melancholy side and a lot of my songs have sadness, and a thread on the entire record which is a sad sound and something that a lot of people can relate to, which is life and love. Blue for me means happiness, blue is my favorite color and, as a little kid, I was always in blue. I wanted to be like "I am the blue beautiful sky that's above me," but also you're talking to the sky: "I'm blue."
WCT: In the video for the song "She's Pretty, She Lies" you are involved in a combative relationship with a woman. A YouTube comment wondered why your love interest is female since you are gay. Do you think that your videos have to be literal and reflect your sexual orientation?
Cheyenne Jackson: Oh gosh, no. I am an artist and a storyteller, and I think that's absolutely ridiculous and kind of obnoxious. I don't think of myself as a "gay singer"—I think of myself as a person who sings and who happens to be gay. When I'm thinking of a video for a song I don't think about it in terms of that, I think about it in terms of how this will relate to the story that I want to tell in the song.
WCT: Is there a style of music that is not in your wheelhouse, or can you sing any genre?
Cheyenne Jackson: Thank you. I can't do really really hard rock music because it's just not the way my voice is. For instance, when Rent was around I auditioned many times and I just don't have that raspy quality to my singing voice.
WCT: You got accolades for your acting in HBO's Behind the Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon. What was it like working with them?
Cheyenne Jackson: I know Matt a little from working on 30 Rock. He's a lovely, amazing, kind and professional actor. Michael was wonderful and he was in it to win it and he was focused. I really just jumped at the chance to work with director Steven Soderbergh and Michael Douglas just because that's a no-brainer. I knew my part wasn't huge, but I knew that just being on set with these fantastic artists would only be a great experience.
WCT: Tell me about the upcoming film Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, co-starring Gena Rowlands.
Cheyenne Jackson: It is based on a play and it is about a former Broadway chorus boy who goes back to his hometown in Florida to take care of his mom who is dying of Alzheimer's. She dies and he's there in his childhood home and he has nothing to do in life except that he used to dance. So he starts teaching dance at this dance school which caters to older wealthy retirees. My first client is Gena Rowlands and it is basically hate at first sight. It's a wonderful story about opposites, life, love, right, wrong and forgiveness. It's my first lead in a multimillion-dollar movie.
WCT: You are openly gay and married. Do women come on to you, thinking that they can turn you around?
Cheyenne Jackson: [Laughs] It's happened a couple of times but most people know the deal.
WCT: You have been quoted as saying, "I don't get big parts because I'm open."
Cheyenne Jackson: That was a little bit taken out of context and it was also said many years ago. I don't know if I don't get parts because of being gay but I am sure there are parts that I haven't gotten because I'm openly gay. If that's the reason that I don't get the part, then I don't want to be a part of that project anyway.
I've been out for almost 20 years now and I've always lived my life openly and honestly. If I am the right person for the part then they will know that and it will be based on my merit, reputation and talent.
For more on Cheyenne Jackson, go to www.cheyennejackson.com .
