Q&A: Queen of Sheena

Kimberley McGee

Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000 | 8:42 a.m.

Sheena Easton rode the fame train all the way from her 1981 hit "Morning Train" to her current "Copa" coup.

Easton currently stars as lead femme fatale, Ruby, in David Cassidy's new Broadway-style show, "David Cassidy's At the Copa, Co-Starring Sheena Easton," which is expected to run through the year at the Rio hotel-casino.

Recently the two-time Grammy winner, The Artist Formerly Known As Prince's protege and Broadway songstress set up house in the Las Vegas Valley with her adopted children, son Jake, 5, and daughter Skylar, 4. Recently she talked with the Sun about Cassidy's stage pranks, motherhood and her love of angels:

Question: What about the "Copa" show attracted you?

Answer: I've done Broadway before, and concerts, so I'm familiar with both mediums and David described the show as a mixture of the two. He started to talk about music we would be doing, from the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s, which is unusual, too, for a show like this. I thought it was an interesting way to go. There's so much freedom. You are a character yet you get to be yourself with your songs.

We are out there being ourselves and it's great having the energy of both of us to bounce off of.

Q: What's David like to perform with?

A: He's got a real devilish energy up there and he is always trying to crack me up. The audience can tell we are teasing each other. He'll be in the wings and he'll always say something to make me laugh as I'm going on stage when I'm supposed to have a serious look on my face.

Q: How do you like performing a nightly show?

A: Eight shows a week can get tedious unless you do something that keeps you interested. I can go to work every day and still be with my family. I don't have to haul the kids all over the country to work. I can have a very normal family life and be able to continue work.

Q: What surprised you about your new hometown?

A: When I've been here before, I've only ever lived in hotels and been centered on the Strip and not getting much further out than that. But I've gotten to know the town and (although) I've been told by friends, it surprised me how family oriented it is. The neighborhoods are nice, people are friendly and there are good schools. It's a good place to raise a kid.

Q: What made you decide to become a single mother when you adopted Jake five years ago?

A: I was 35 and I'd been thinking about it for five years. I couldn't do without being a mom in my life, I knew that. I was tired of self-centeredness, of living my life just for me.

I've been lucky enough to be successful in my career so I got to experience all those ego highs we crave, and I'd traveled the world. I knew it was time for me to say there is somebody more important than me. It sounds so hokey but it was a time in my life that I looked at spiritual things in my life. It's changed the whole core of my life.

Q: Do you plan to adopt again?

A: I'm very comfortable with being the mother of two. I'm lucky it worked out that I got a son and daughter so I get to experience both growing up. (She sneezes politely. "Wait, there is another one coming." A small "achoo" is heard and she apologizes for having "a bit of a cold.")

Q: How did you get into designing angel figurines for the QVC Network?

A: When my son was born, I was holding him and he was brand new, minutes into the world, and it was almost like he was aware of something. His eyes were wide and looking around and I thought, it just popped out: "Are you looking at your angels? How many angels did you bring with you?"

I have a real belief that the purer we are the more we have contact with these things. As we get older we get more cynical.

Q: Why did you begin to design your own angel figurines?

A: I wanted to fill up our home with angels, on the walls on the tables, just every room. I went and bought figures and pictures and things. I would tell my kids stories about them. I wanted to have angels that represented nature and light and there weren't any.

My son just gave me an angel because I gave all mine to him. He was going through something, you know, scared of the dark, so I told him he could have Mommy's special angels from my room. For Christmas, he told his Grandma, "I want to give Mommy an angel." It's so sweet. That's one of the things that only when you are a mom can you experience it.

Q: In 1985 you received an Emmy nomination and surprised fans with the Spanish language album "Me Gustas Tal Como Eres." Why did you delve into that style of music?

A: I'd been singing all over the world, and had been to South America many times, and they kept asking me to do an album. Even though I don't speak Spanish, they said, "we'll teach it to you phonetically and translate the songs for you."

I thought it would be a challenge to sing in a different language and it does reach the audience more when they can hear it in their language, their first language. It turned out to get a Grammy, which was a surprise, to say the least.

Q: You've continually recorded an album and toured for the past two decades. What's next?

A: It's gonna be a full year. I'm doing the "Copa" through the year and I'm starting a new album right now actually, for EMI/Universal in England, a high-energy dance album. I'm also working on a children's book and album, which I've been working on as a hobby. (She sighs.) I'm trying to fit it all in and give the kids their full attention.

After that I'm going to take a little bit of time off. We'll be going back to L.A. and then I'll see what my next project is. I'm going to try not to get too ahead of myself. I like to see what comes up naturally. That's what I like about this, I like the freedom of my work. I'll just have to see.

Q: And listen to your angels?

A: Yes, always.