Fort Lauderdale Magazine: Taylor, it’s such a pleasure to do this interview. You’re not only a Grammy-nominated singer, dancer and songwriter, but what many people don’t know about is your acting career. Tell us more about it.
Taylor Dayne: Oh yeah, I went right into Broadway. I went right into one of their first-scripted shows, Showtime. I’ve had an amazing career. I feel more comfortable in my skin as a singer, but when I’m acting it’s a real big deal. Broadway was amazing, and it’s really hard and more difficult, and I find that exciting and challenging.
FLMag: And I don’t think many people know that because they know you as a singer. You released five studio albums, 25 singles, 20 top 10 singles on the Billboard charts and you sold 75 million albums and singles worldwide. Your first 10 hits became top 10 in the U.S., but was it actually more?
TD: My first 10 hits…yeah, that would’ve been my first three records; then I had a couple of number ones. If we’re talking about albums or just singles, I’ve had many more number ones across different charts. Dance. Actually 20 top 20 hits. That’s for sure.
FLMag: How many years has it been for you in total?
TD: 37.
FLMag: Wow! Your highest-energy song was “Tell It to My Heart” and it was a huge success with a wide audience, followed by a rapid succession of other hits. Would you say that one song was your biggest accomplishment?
TD: I’d say that when you begin your career, that first song, on some level people always identify me as “Tell It to My Heart.” After that, “Love Will Lead You Back,” “I’ll Always Love You,” “Don’t Rush Me.” Gosh, how many times do people say, “Don’t rush me”? [Laughs.] And “Love Will Lead You Back,” I would also say, is a very, very emotional song and got quite a huge and emotional reaction with my fans.
FLMag: You’ve been a big success. You also had a double platinum certification in the U.S. and a gold certification in Canada, which peaked at number one in the German charts. Kudos to that. You’re worldwide, not just the United States.
TD: Yeah, I was opening for Michael Jackson, so we went worldwide. Yes, we have had a beautiful time so far.
FLMag: I also like the “Tell It to My Heart” remix with Cash Cash.
TD: Oh yeah, that was for the 35-year anniversary with Cash Cash, and it did really well. Again, number one.
FLMag: I’m going to touch on a rather personal subject now. Your battle with cancer. How did that scare in 2022 change your life, or did it change your life?
TD: When you find out you have cancer, everybody has that moment. But I was going in for a routine colonoscopy. It was discovered when I was maybe 54 that I had a lot of polyps. And the gastrologist was like, “We need to remove your colon.” I’m like, “What?” I can’t emphasize enough [how important it is] to be educated. I thought colon cancer was a male-dominated disease, you know, like prostate cancer. Quite frankly, I think it’s a topic that’s not really talked about. Being raised by my mom and the family like I was, we were much more open. There was nothing in my genetics, nothing showing, no signs. So after that, I was going routinely to have colonoscopies done because there were so many polyps. I had like five to seven, and that doctor wanted to remove my colon. I got a second opinion, and this doctor wanted to monitor me every six months. Which is a little extreme because most people would say, “Don’t come back for another five years,” but I had a lot of polyps. So it’s all about when you get them biopsied. In my late 50s, I got a call saying, “We need to talk. You have a very aggressive form of cancer on one of the polyps.” This developed in like six months, and no, I had no symptoms of anything.
FLMag: Well, I’m so glad that you caught it and that you’re healthy and in remission.
TD: Well, early detection, in any of this, is a lifesaver. I mean, we lost Kirstie Alley — a dear friend and lovely woman — within months. Unfortunately, sometimes you don’t know and sometimes it’s undetectable. So I recommend colonoscopies, especially in your 40s. We are surrounded by such toxicity on so many levels. So I really encourage everybody to do as much as you can, as early as you can because this was a game-changer on so many levels. This changed me on so many levels, as a person and as a woman. I fought back because being cancer-free was so easy compared to the surgery and the aftermath. I learned to lean on family. You can become vulnerable. It opened up my heart, but it also made me a stronger fighter and more of an advocate, and it led me to my campaign with Wacoal and breast cancer awareness. I’ve become a voice and understand that the only way you can tackle this is head-on. This is a part of who I am today. I believe my life is for a reason and a purpose. I used my voice, my heart and my love of life to become a health advocate. Giving to myself is also giving to my fans. I love them so dearly. It was my choice to get onstage early. I went there against the wishes of my doctor and my management. I needed to sit on that stage and see if I could be okay there. If the worst thing that could happen is that I’ll be at the hospital and I’ll get checked on. I was so frail but I felt my strength there, and I felt the people listening and the ability to share my story.
FLMag: You have a new perspective on life, which I appreciate. Sometimes things happen, and I’m glad that you caught it.
TD: It happened because my body reacted the way it does, but it also happened for a million reasons. I understand so much more and my gratitude is so great. Not that it ever left me but you find a greater scale to live, and my purpose and my work have reinforced my love and my passion.
FLMag: God bless you for that because you are an advocate, and people will love to read about this. Another question: You were recently on The Golden Bachelorette. How did that come about?
TD: [Laughs.] Listen, television is wild, and The Golden Bachelorette was just a great episode. They were trying to reenact a prom and having a dance moment, and it was just another fabulous TV episode. God knows we’ve all been watching The Bachelorette and now The Golden, so it was fun and a big TV moment. It was great to be an artist involved in that and perform my music once again.
FLMag: You were also on The Masked Singer, which was incredible.
TD: Oh yeah, a couple of times. Once as a beautiful popcorn and then coming back as a guest judge and host. It’s been great. They’re amazing and I love [them].
FLMag: You are now a resident of Fort Lauderdale. Is that true?
TD: I am. I have a place here now. I left Miami and came up to be closer to my parents, who are still with us — God bless us.
FLMag: Well, welcome to the community. Why did you choose Fort Lauderdale? Because of your parents, or did you just like the area?
TD: Oh, I love it. I was in Miami, and I wanted to be closer to them. They are stronger than ever at 90 and 94, and it’s my joy to have a place closer to them. As they are slowing down, it feels important for me and for them to have these moments together.
FLMag: And it’s where you should be at this point in their lives. I agree.
TD: Yeah, I really truly believe that. I love Fort Lauderdale and how it’s bloomed. I think it’s great, and we have enough fun and enough friends and it’s close. I’m having a good time. It has everything I like.
FLMag: Thank you so much for your time. Congratulations on everything and your good health.
TD: I look forward to seeing all my fans in Fort Lauderdale on August 2. It’s going to be an amazing show. I love that theater; I think it’s great. I can’t wait for all the fans to come out. I love you guys.
