As you know, Mama is an elderly, bitter, childless loser who never leaves her house. I’ve spent the last two decades sitting alone in the dark. Other than my show and my spin class (where I wear big sunglasses and a shawl — picture Greta Garbo on a bicycle), I NEVER leave my house. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Sunset Boulevard,” you know it’s no accident that I named my dog Max.
Max brings me my mail every day, including all the letters I still get from my devoted fans begging for an autographed photo. I try not to look too closely at the envelopes, because the paw-printing is very similar on all of them.
Tonight though, Max is putting on his chauffeur’s cap and fueling up the Packard, and Mama is venturing out into the world.
No, Mr. de Mille didn’t call me in for my close-up.
I’m going out to see the public premiere of an important new film, “Wish Me Away,” the prize-winning documentary film about Chely Wright, the official country star of the Stephanie Miller show and the woman I call my “Gay Whisperer.” Chely was my coming-out coach two years ago, and this moving, powerful film records her own journey from closeted Nashville country singer to open (and now married) gay activist.
If you’re anywhere near Los Angeles tonight or this weekend, you HAVE to see this movie. Showtimes and more info here.
Mama and her girl gang will be at the 5 p.m. show tonight (Friday), and I’ll be joining in the after-show panel discussion with Chely and the film’s directors. If you can’t make it tonight or this weekend, “Wish Me Away” is also available on iTunes and Video-On-Demand.
Oh, one more thing! On the show today, I finally got Chely Wright to come out of her last closet. After years of saying that she wasn’t political and didn’t support candidates, Chely endorsed President Obama for re-election because of his courage in supporting marriage equality.
Mama can do some whispering herself.
(Photo: Getty Images)
