Carrie Ann Inaba of 'Dancing With the Stars' - TV Tattler Interview

TV Tattler: Celebrity Interviews

Related Links 'Dancing With the Stars' Listings More About Carrie Ann Inaba PEOPLE: Inaba Finds Love

<< Return to Previous Page

But you started as a pop star too, right? You were famous as a teen pop singer in Japan. What happened? Was it not what you thought it was going to be?
You know, it wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I grew up watching Sting and Prince and amazing artists, and when I went there [to Japan], I learned it was more about pop culture. And really what they're doing it marketing your face. And it had nothing to do with creating a great song or a great lyric. It's about getting the product out there very quickly. But it was a fantastic experience. I got to learn so much about how the business works, and I got to live in a foreign country and I met people from all over the world who are still my close friends. That experience was profound for me because I was just a little girl from Hawaii.

What did you learn from it?
I'm very thankful for that experience because it kind of prepared me for what's going on right now. There's a bit of celebrity that comes with being a judge on 'Dancing With the Stars,' and I know not to take it very seriously. I know not to get caught up in myself.

I've seen you co-hosting 'The View' a couple times. Are you up for Star's spot?
I don't know. All I know is they've asked me to do it twice, and I had a great time. And it's no pressure. All my friends were asking me, "So are you nervous?" And I wasn't nervous because there's no sort of responsibility. I'm just responsible for myself. Just chatting with the girls is a great experience. But on 'Dancing With the Stars,' I get nervous before every show because there?s such a responsibility to judge the celebrities and the dancing partners who've worked so hard all week and give them fair scores.

So are you still working with 'American Idol'?
Yeah. I worked with them this past season. I don't work with them until they get to the stage, and that's not usually until March. If they ask me back and if my schedule permits, I hope to do it again.

It seems the approach to dancing has changed on that show. I remember a few seasons back when they'd have those huge, campy dance numbers. Those are gone now -- thankfully.
Yeah, if someone doesn't want to dance, don't make them dance. That show is not about dancing; it's about singing. It's more about making the contestants feel comfortable. I just stage numbers on that show. In the beginning, they had a choreographer who did a lot of choreography, and the first season I came on, I did it too because I thought that's what they wanted. And once I felt more comfortable with my position on that show, I kind of stepped away from that. It would be wonderful if we had a season of people on that show who could actually sing and dance. We could stage some amazing numbers. This year especially, they were all stars in their own right, so it was really about giving them space to be a star.

So Taylor's moves were all his own?
Yeah, I take no claim for Taylor's moves. (Laughs)