"Bravotv.com: You and Kenya have known each other for years – what’s the funniest/craziest thing you guys have done together?
Claudia Jordan: Hmm, I'd have to say the funniest thing we've done together was when for her birthday we went to a karaoke bar and performed "Nasty Girls." Of course I was terrible, because I'm Rhythmless Nation over here, but Kenya was pretty good. I mean she's no Mariah in the voice department, but what I like about her is she commits to the bit. It was fun (and you can check it out here)!
Bravotv.com: You lost your tooth in the bedroom once, any other wild encounters?
CJ: You know what? I have so many clumsy/goofy moments in my life that when I tell these stories, sometimes my friends think all of this can't be true and that I must be making it up! OK, once I was in the club (a couple of glasses of wine in) and T.I.'s song "Bring Em Out" came on, and for some reason I thought it would be cool to attempt to do a James Brown type split. Umm yeah…that didn't go too well. Let's just say I ended up in the hospital the next morning with a torn MCL (knee) and had to use a cane and go through 6 weeks of therapy just to straighten my leg out! Yeah and this was right before taking that job as a model on Deal or No Deal. Seriously every time we walked down those stairs I was terrified that my knee would give out in front of the 13 million viewers that we had! Oh yes, I have many, many, many struggle moments. Underneath it all I'm just a big goofy kid at heart!
Bravotv.com: How long have you known Rickey Smiley?
CJ: Hmm, we go back some years. I have always been a big fan of comedy and comedians. When I lived in LA, I'd always prefer frequenting the comedy hotspots over the night clubs. Once Rickey came by the Foxxhole Radio Show (the show I co-hosted with Jamie Foxx) and we had SUCH a fun show! It was great! I said a lot of shocking things that I guess girls don't usually say, and we have been cool ever since. I like that kind of comedy. I think it's fun to push the envelope and even make you a little uncomfortable. Well years later, here I am working alongside him every morning. I will say the funniest interactions and jokes between us happen between breaks when we are off the mic. So many times we are almost to the point of tears in the studio. I really love to laugh and make others laugh. It makes me feel good and alive! I totally appreciate my job. It's a blessing and I just want to keep getting better and better.
The funny thing about being in radio is I never thought I'd make a career out of it. I know folks are 50/50 about my raspy voice and I just wanted to do some explaining. When I was 2-years-old I had surgery on my throat. I had a cyst removed. It was right in the middle of my throat and I still have a little scar. My mom told me it was pretty scary, but it had to be done. She also told me there were risks involved -- that I possibly wouldn't be able to talk or eat without a tube -- but it all worked out. But I will say that throughout my entire life I've had issues with my throat and voice. As a young girl I would be in and out of the hospital with strep throat all the time, I had my tonsils removed when I was 10-years-old, and when I turned 22 I suffered total voice loss and it was scary! Later on in life I was told I had nodes on my vocal chords. So when folks say, "I hate her voice," I just ask that you keep that in mind I'm just grateful I can even speak at all!
Bravotv.com: When NeNe heard you were in Atlanta, her reaction was, “The thirst is real.” What do make of that?
CJ: I thought that was an odd reaction. I mean how is it "thirsty" of me to be in a city where I just got hired to work? I didn't understand that comment. As someone that always prides herself for being such a hard worker, a hustler, and a worker bee, I was surprised that NeNe would say something that seemed shady about another fellow hard worker like myself, who is just out here making my own money and pursuing my own dreams. The irony of it all is that our professional paths have crossed in Atlanta before, so why would it be "thirsty" of me to be out here now? I auditioned for the Rickey Smiley show and got the job, signed my contract, and relocated like I'm supposed to. So as far as being "thirsty," I'm actually quite satisfied and whatever thirst I may have had for bookings has clearly been quenched."
What do you think about Claudia’s blog?
The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sunday nights at 8/7c only on Bravo
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