I MIGHT HAVE BEEN QUEEN: (And Other Things I Didn't Mention Before)

By Brian Edwards and Melissa Rivers

I Might Have Been Queen? Child please, more like The Bitch Is Back okurrr? My baby boy Brian Edwards come a-callin' asking ME, Jenifer MF'ing Lewis, could he wear my electric blue coat from Jackie's Back?!

I've known this crazy man since 1996 when we first met at the William Morris Agency in Beverly Hills. Since he’s been such a loyal supportive friend all these years, I said, "Yes, fool. Only for you."

So ya'll take it from me, the Mother of Black Hollywood, read this damn book and see how crazily fabulous this queen really is.
— Jenifer Lewis, Multi-Award Winning Actress, Singer, Best Selling Author and Star of ABC's Black-ish

International Book Awards (2020)
Best LGBTQ-Non-Fiction (Winner)
Best Humor (Winner)

National Indie Excellence Awards (2020)
Best Entertainment (Winner)
LGBTQ Non-Fiction (Finalist)
Humor (Finalist)
Book Interior Design Non-Fiction (Finalist)
Book Cover Design Non-Fiction (Finalist)

Beverly Hills Book Awards (2019)
Best Autobiography (Winner)
Best LGBTQ Non-Fiction (Winner)
Best Cover Design Non-Fiction (Winner)

American Book Fest -Best Book Awards (2019)
Best LGBTQ Non-Fiction (Winner)
Best Humor (Finalist)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Aug 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9781480879393

Brian Edwards

With a career spanning the past four decades, Brian Edwards has enjoyed unique success in the entertainment industry as a celebrity talent executive, producer, publicist and writer (order depends on the day). He has served as talent executive / talent producer for three Emmy Award – winning shows, and as an independent PR rep, he spearheaded the campaigns for five Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremonies to date for Joan Rivers, Donna Summer, Whoopi Goldberg, Rascal Flatts and Vanessa Williams, with ceremonies currently pending for TRIO: Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris, as well as Tanya Tucker and Cindy Crawford. In 2012, Brian was honored by the International Press Academy with the Satellite Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Entertainment, becoming only the third recipient of this honor in the academy’s history. I Might Have Been Queen (And Other Things I Didn’t Mention Before) is the follow-up to his autobiography, Enter Miss Thang, which ultimately became the most honored LGBT non-fiction book of 2014. As a tribute to his work with the legendary Queen of Disco, Brian was recently portrayed in the smash hit, Tony Award nominated Broadway show Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, which embarks on its’ first U.S. national tour in the fall of 2019. Connect With Miss Thang Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @EnterMissThang TheBrianEdwards.com

Book preview

I MIGHT

HAVE BEEN

QUEEN

(And Other Things

I Didn’t Mention Before)

BRIAN EDWARDS

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I MIGHT

HAVE BEEN

QUEEN

(And Other Things

I Didn’t Mention Before)

Copyright © 2019 Brian Edwards

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of non-fiction. Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Archway Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

844-669-3957

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-4808-7938-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-7939-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019908593

Archway Publishing rev. date: 01/24/2024

Photo Credits

All Photos Courtesy of Enter Talking Client Relations and the personal archives of Brian Edwards unless otherwise noted

Contents

Foreword By Melissa Rivers

Introduction By Cindy Crawford

Prologue

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

The Early Years

The Career Days

#TeamRivers

Summer

My Angels

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Twenty-Two

Twenty-Three

Twenty-Four

Twenty-Five

Twenty-Six

Twenty-Seven

Twenty-Eight

Twenty-Nine

Thirty

Thirty-One

Thirty-Two

Special Memories From Along The Way....

Acknowledgments

#TEAMTHANG

For Sabrina Lott-Miller -

The one who has been there with me through it all.

In Memory Of

Nell Carter 182944.jpg Priscilla Coolidge 182947.jpg Farrah Fawcett 182949.jpg Coach Jack Salter

Donna Summer

And

Joan Rivers

Foreword By

Melissa Rivers

According to Brian, this is how we met.

It was probably late 1986. But then again, Brian has been known to fudge a date or two in order for none of us to age anywhere close to accurately.

Anyway, I was backstage after one of my mother’s shows at Carlos & Charlie’s on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. My parents were sitting at a table with this young guy who happened to be diligently taking notes as they spoke. They were all engaged in a seemingly deep conversation, but it was my father, with his distinctive laugh, who kept cracking up. I remember thinking whoever this guy is he must be funny because he’d tapped into my father’s particular sense of humor, and he was clearly having a blast.

At some point, my mother waved me over and introduced us. Out of curiosity, I asked Brian what he had been writing down, and he said that he wanted to learn everything he could about the entertainment industry from my parents, his role models. As their angsty, teenage spawn, I’m sure my eye-rolls ensued upon hearing this. But it was clear that Brian cherished the time he spent with them, gaining valuable knowledge about the ups and downs of show business. He said it was as if he considered my parents his professors. (Cue my even larger eye-rolls!) Brian continued to tell me that my mother taught him more about timing on stage than he could have learned in college. And at that point, my eyes were exhausted and I’m sure I made a swift exit, as what teenager wants to listen to anyone tell them how wonderful their parents are.

So, I have no choice but to accept Brian’s version of how we met, because to be honest I don’t remember. Not because it wasn’t meaningful, but because I don’t recollect a time when he wasn’t in my life.

We all have them – special people in our lives whom we may not get to see on a regular basis, but we know they are ALWAYS in our corner. And as far back as I can recall, my dear friend Brian Edwards has been there for me and for my family. Over the years, Brian has remained a loving, constant and positive presence in my life. He is truly part of my family. Through ups and downs, Brian has never wavered in his support.

Beginning with his early days working as an assistant in the commercial department at the William Morris Agency in Beverly Hills, Brian looked out for me with unwavering encouragement of any project I’ve been involved in. As a Talent Producer and Client Relations Rep, I too (along with dozens of other celebrities) have been fortunate to work with him on numerous projects. Every network for which Brian has been hired to produce, he’s booked me for work.

I’m beyond happy that Brian decided to follow up his successful, award winning debut release, Enter Miss Thang, and continues to share his amazing life and career with all of us. And I’m particularly grateful to continue on the journey with him… even though I’m pretty sure he tried to kill me once. Oh yeah…it involved a Mardi Gras King Cake from New Orleans and my lack of knowledge that a small, plastic baby was baked inside. Nice try! I know Brian felt a kinship with my parents, but he didn’t have to off me in order to get to them.

In any case, I love you Miss Thang!

Melissa xoxo

Introduction By

Cindy Crawford

So, where was I? Oh yes, back in 2013, I officially introduced you to the world of "Miss Thang – educating you on the whys, what’s and who cares" of this colorful, outspoken, extremely loyal and unique character that Hollywood insiders have known for over 30 years. And as he explained in one of the chapters, it was I who also knighted him many years ago with that nickname, which has since taken on a life of its’ own.

Fast-forward to 2019, on the eve of the publication of this follow-up book, nothing much has really changed – unless, of course, you to take into consideration that Enter Miss Thang went on to become a national best-seller and ultimately the most-honored LGBT non-fiction book of 2014, winning Best Autobiography at The National Indie Excellence Awards among numerous others. So, it was inevitable there would have to be a follow-up, right? And judging by his Instagram presence, he could probably fill the pages of a half-dozen more books!

And, now six-years later, here it is: I Might Have Been Queen (And Other Things I Didn’t Mention Before).

This new title surprised me because we all know without a doubt that he is the queen – or at least the biggest queen I know!

So, get ready, because this time around, he’s a little bolder, more daring, sassy and Diva-ish (if you can imagine that). And rest assured, a good time will be had by all who read this entertaining, heartfelt and incredibly funny next installment about the life of someone I truly adore: My dear friend, Brian Edwards aka Dionne Warwick to those of us who know him best.

Much love as always,

Cindy

(Miss Crawford if you’re nasty!)

The latter being the explanation I felt would calm down Steve Furr, my main point person at Archway Publishing – but somehow, he always saw through the excuses. Rather than pressure me with a definitive deadline, he continually offered support and advice to keep me on track. With any written creative project –whether it’s a book, script, or play – there comes a time when you must say, This bitch is done.

To kick start my mood, as I sauntered over to my desk this morning, I grabbed a Krispy Kreme donut from the box on the counter and a bottle of Aqua Panna water from the refrigerator and downed it like I was putting out a bond fire. I then reached for the remote control for my window shades. Usually, I prefer to work with the shades down, but today for some odd reason I decided otherwise.

As the shades slowly rose to reveal my wonderful view of downtown Los Angeles at L.A. Live, I welcomed the dark sky and heavy rainfall as if old friends had stopped by for a visit.

With my first book, Enter Miss Thang, I wanted it to be a casual conversational experience for the reader – as if I were sitting across from them on the sofa – speaking directly to them in my sassy, signature slang – which purposely may not always be grammatically correct. For me, it’s all about the delivery and my connection with a person. And of course the anticipation of their reaction – hopefully with tons of laughter. From the feedback I’ve received over the years, I’m confident that I accomplished my goal. So, with book #2, I kept the same formula. If it ain’t broke sista, don’t fix it. There were a lot of things I didn’t mention before plus so many other things have happened over the past few years, I felt the time was right to continue my story.

For those of you wondering about the title of this book, let me address that now. I Might Have Been Queen has nothing to do with the amazing song by Tina Turner that was a track on her multi-platinum album, Private Dancer.

Written by legendary British songwriters Rupert Hine, Jamie West-Oram and the late Jeanette Obstoj, this song is brilliant – both lyrically and musically, and deserves to be in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. I consider it one of the Top Ten best songs ever composed by a British songwriting team and to my understanding, it was written specifically for Tina Turner. The way I interpret it, as explained in various interviews and articles over the years with Tina and the songwriters, it deals with Tina’s belief in reincarnation. But baby, my book ain’t about that. I’m not about any past lives or future ones. I’m focused on the now – the life I am living and loving. This is it for Miss Thang.

For me, I Might Have Been Queen, represents my own personal journey as a diva (self-proclaimed if you will) and the times where, at various occasions, I’ve won, the times I’ve felt I should’ve won and the numerous times I’ve lost or failed during the half-century that my nelly ass has been blessed to walk this earth. It also ties together my fascination with London, England, and anything British. When I was six years old and heard my first Olivia Newton-John album and learned of her connection to the U.K. – I couldn’t wait for my first trip across the pond. As I’ve said often, I will one day retire in London. And at my age, that’s probably going to happen a lot sooner than later.

As I do my best to entertain you with this second round of memories from along the way, I hope you’ll sit back and enjoy the ride. And never forget to always embrace the rain and remember the humor.

Much love,

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Miss Thang

Prologue

Ever since I was a kid growing up in the deep south, I’ve always found something very calming and comforting about the rain. And over the past several weeks, Los Angeles has gotten more than its’ fair share – and I’ve loved it.

Thunder, lightning, hailstorms, brisk, cold winds – all very welcoming as 2019 kicked into full swing for me. I guess I needed the rain to erase some of the unfortunate events I went through in 2018 – both personally and professionally on many levels. It was a rough year – full of lessons, hard decisions and lost loves - but no regrets.

Under similar, if not worse circumstances earlier in my life and career, I had made it through the rain then, so 2018 wasn’t going be an exception. It’s unnecessary to go into details, but with life in the entertainment industry being such a rollercoaster, I’ve learned over the years to master the ride.

When life is good, oh baby it’s good, I’ll tell you that right now. But when things become difficult - creating drama and tension in my life, causing me to question someone’s loyalty I simply must step back from the situation, take a deep breath, and remind myself that life goes on. This too shall pass and guess what? It always does.

As I write this final entry for this book, which is due today at my publishers’ office – it’s now over two years behind schedule. Each time I was ready to turn it in, I decided either the timing wasn’t right or convinced myself to make additional revisions.

One

WORKING IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY over the years because it’s such an unpredictable profession, I’m asked these questions more than any others: Why the fuck didn’t you go to nursing school? Followed by: What was the defining moment you knew you had chosen the right profession? It’s difficult to answer because from day one, a show business career was the only choice I had my mind set on. Even with all the uncertainty of guaranteed success, there’s no other occupation where I’d find the contentment I’ve experienced in my life. I’m one of the fortunate ones and I’ve never taken that for granted.

Growing up in various small Southern towns, there were not a lot of opportunities for me to participate in entertainment industry-related projects targeted towards my career goals, aside from speech class in junior and senior high school or the local Playmakers Theatre in Covington, Louisiana. I had to create my own little world. Sometimes money was tight in the household budget, but my mom always made sure I was well entertained.

In middle school, you could consistently find me at the movies once a week on dollar-night, and other times happily staying at home reading, writing creative stories, and watching old classic movies late at night on weekends and during school breaks. Music always played in our home. Sometimes classic rock, country, or Top 40 radio stations out of New Orleans were blaring throughout the house, or one of my mother’s favorite albums by Linda Ronstadt, Loretta Lynn, or Diana Ross & The Supremes. I was also very fond of her collection of Broadway cast show albums such as Carousel, The Music Man, Chicago, Westside Story, Oklahoma, and Applause, starring that bitch Lauren Bacall, and I say that with all due respect.

(If that referent confuses you, then I suggest you read my first book Enter Miss Thang, before your ass dives any further into this book.)

In seventh grade, I saved my weekly allowance and babysitting money awaiting the annual Publishers Clearing House letter and order form to subscribe to every magazine possible. Among my favorites were People, Time, Newsweek, and my usual half dozen teen publications such as Tiger Beat, 16 and Teen Beat. To educate myself further in theatre, arts, and literature, I subscribed to the Sunday edition of the New York Times – which usually arrived via U.S. Mail about ten days after publication – just so I could keep up with the latest Broadway shows, art exhibits, and best-selling books – many of which I bought from the Doubleday Book Club. You could get six books for a penny by agreeing to buy two more at full price as part of the membership. There were music clubs as well that offered similar deals: Columbia House and RCA. Over six years, I collected books, records, magazines, and various articles to inspire me and fuel my passion for the world of entertainment I dove into headfirst.

In 1982, the spring of my tenth-grade year at Covington High School, I needed to earn more cash to help cover the expenses of my necessary research which also included concerts and a season ticket subscription to the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans. So, I got a work permit and my first real job, aside from babysitting and mowing a few neighbors’ lawns (which was an excuse to work on my tan!). And honey it only took a few lawns for me to realize I’m not the outdoorsy type—unless you’re talking about an outdoor shopping mall.

One afternoon at my dear neighbor, Miss Juliette Willette’s house, I didn’t care for the flowers on the side of her house, so I mowed them down and suggested she replace them with something bolder and more dramatic – as if I were a horticulture expert.

That didn’t go well! Although Miss Willette appreciated my enthusiasm over the appearance of her lawn, she explained the flowers she had planted were her favorites and had cost her over $100.00, which at the time was a lot of money for flower seeds and fertilizer.

Certain she would not hire me back the following week, I decided that afternoon to move on to other ventures. She still paid me my special $5.00 flat rate, along with a parting goodie bag of fresh-baked cookies and banana nut bread, which I devoured later that night watching the hit CBS series Dallas — my weekly Friday night television drama indulgence.

A few days later, my mom drove me to an interview I landed at Tony Pedone’s – which was the best Italian restaurant in Covington. A well-established, family-owned business, Tony Pedone’s had two large dining rooms on the right as you entered the restaurant and a separate piano bar/lounge to the left. Rick Moore, one of the owners, scheduled my interview to take place after school at 4:00 PM. The discussion was brief, asking me only two questions: What school do you attend and what are your hobbies? To which I replied, Covington High School and I love all things related to pageants!

Although I did not know it, Rick was married to Connie Moore who ran the local Miss St. Tammany Pageant, a preliminary to the Miss Louisiana Pageant, under the Miss America system. That must have been the lucky answer because Rick hired me on the spot and had me follow him to the office to fill out paperwork. Rick gave me two black vests and told me the attire consisted of black pants, black shoes, and a white shirt and to report the next day at 4:30 PM. My schedule was Tuesday through Thursday, minimum wage plus a percentage of the waitress’s tips – so I would earn good money for a fifteen-year-old.

I live for drama and excitement, and it didn’t take long for me to figure out that this hot Italian establishment was the perfect place for folks to meet up for the occasional indiscretion. There were several patrons from New Orleans and Bogalusa (a neighboring city to Covington) who met half-way at Tony Pedone’s (sometimes two or three times per week for dinner and drinks) –which was conveniently near the Green Springs Motel, if you receive my meaning!

One guy from New Orleans always paid in cash even though he had a wallet full of credit cards. He confidentially slipped me two crisp twenty-dollar bills every time he came in, which was better than he tipped the waitress! I presumed this was hush money should Mrs. New Orleans ever stop by asking questions. And for the record, one of the hottest songs on the radio at that time, was Our Lips Are Sealed by The Go-Go’s. Enough said.

The one thing I loved most about working at Tony Pedone’s was the jukebox in the lounge next to the piano bar section. It featured amazing classic hits from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. From Streisand to Sinatra, Shirley Bassey to Shirley Jones, Ronstadt to Ross and everyone in between. Often, I arrived early and sat by the piano with a snack and did my homework while absorbing every song played on the jukebox, as if a sponge in an Olympic size swimming pool.

Miss Doris, the manager of the bar and lounge, was a fabulous character. Her son, Sonny Kerlec, was the premiere hair stylist in Covington. It was almost impossible to get an appointment with him at Style Setters Salon unless you were a regular client. That bitch stayed booked weeks in advance! To this day, no one ever styled my hair better than Sonny. As time passed, however, so did my hairline.

I loved it when Sonny stopped by for a drink after work. It was a blast! He filled me in on the latest and greatest in New Orleans including the best restaurants, shops, and events he knew would interest me. And Miss Doris was an outright trip! She didn’t take shit from anyone and always served as my guardian if anyone had too much to drink and called me a sissy—which usually happened every week.

During the on-again-off-again, two-year period I worked at Tony Pedone’s, I became friends with some fantastic people and learned a great deal from our regulars and other patrons who gave advice and encouragement to follow my dreams. I remember with fondness, a series of radio and television commercials for a local convenience store chain, like 7-Eleven, called Time Saver. Their hysterical television commercial spots featured only the hands and voices of two New Orleans based actors, Shirl Cieutat, and Becky Allen.

In the spots, the characters of Anna May (Cieutat) and Rosemary (Allen) prepared po’ boy sandwiches while carrying on and gossiping in thick (New Orleans) Yat accents. I loved the commercials and the po’ boys!

A few years later, in the summer of 1986, two of my high school friends, Gia Romano and Alycia Olano came out to Los Angeles to visit, and we spent the day at Universal Studios. Throughout the entire tour, we kept referring, in character, Rosemary and Anna May,