Patti LaBelle Opens Up About The One Thing She Can't Do

Patti LaBelle’s Surprising Secret: She Can’t Drive

When you think of Patti LaBelle, you picture a powerhouse singer, an actress, an entrepreneur, and an author who’s conquered just about every industry she's touched. But there’s one area where this legendary star admits she’s a little out of her depth. While chatting with Busy Philipps on her late-night show Busy Tonight back in January 2019, Patti revealed something that might surprise her fans: she can't drive. Now, this isn’t just a casual confession—it’s a quirky fact that adds a whole new layer to her already fascinating life story.

Sitting down with Busy, the host casually asked Patti if she ever sings in the car. It’s a question most people would answer with a simple "yes," but Patti's response was anything but ordinary. "I can’t drive," she said matter-of-factly, leaving Busy speechless. "You can’t drive?!" Busy exclaimed, clearly astonished. Patti, ever the cool customer, shrugged it off and said, "I don’t know a car key from a door key." And how does the Queen of Soul get around, you ask? Simple: she takes rides from anyone willing to chauffeur her!

A Fun Fact Even Her Friends Didn’t Know

It turns out that Patti’s inability to drive isn’t exactly common knowledge, even among her closest friends and colleagues. In fact, one of her famous pals once gifted her a car without realizing she couldn’t operate it. Patti shared the story with Busy, explaining that legendary comedian Richard Pryor felt he wasn’t paying her enough during their tour together. Determined to make it up to her, Richard showered her with extravagant gifts, including a sauna, diamond bracelets, and—yes—a car.

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"Many years ago, Richard Pryor and I were on tour together, and he didn’t think he was paying me enough money," Patti recalled. "So he said, 'I have to give you things.' He gave me a sauna and sent it to Philadelphia. A sauna and diamond bracelets. And then he had me go and pick out a car for his aunt in Detroit." Patti went on to describe how she chose a beautiful blue-gray car for Richard’s aunt, only to be asked to sit in it and turn on the ignition. "What’s the ignition?" she asked, to which Richard simply replied, "Just try." It wasn’t until after the car was purchased that Patti politely informed Richard, "Thank you, Richard, I can’t drive." Classic Patti!

Busy Philipps Steps Up to the Plate

Busy Philipps, ever the gracious host, offered to drive Patti to her upcoming LA show in March. But with a playful twist, she asked if they could take one of Patti’s cars instead of her own, which she described as "smelling like old food" due to her two little kids. Patti, always up for an adventure, laughed it off and said, "I could care less. Didn’t I tell you I rode in anything?" It seems like this could be the start of a beautiful friendship—or at least a fun road trip!

So, as we wait for March to roll around, fans can only speculate whether Busy will actually follow through on her promise to chauffeur Patti to her LA gig. One thing’s for sure: Patti LaBelle continues to charm us with her honesty, wit, and a little bit of unexpected humor. Here's to hoping she sings the whole way there!