Patti LaBelle is an American singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman. LaBelle began her vocal career in the early 1960's as the lead singer of the vocal group, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. She is widely acclaimed as the "Godmother of Soul," and started a solo career after the split of the former group in 1976. She later released her debut album, which featured her career-defining song, "You Are My Friend". She has won several Grammy Awards, published six best-selling books and launched a line of sauces, sweet potato pie and cakes known as Patti's Good Life. LaBelle is also known for her humanitarian work with adoption, foster care, the American Diabetes association and more. In 2019, LaBelle competed on the second season of The Masked Singer as "Flower".
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Patti LaBelle made her star-studded Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut appearance in the 1990 Parade, appearing and performing aboard Macy's own "Soaring Spirits Canoe" float. For her appearance on the NBC Parade telecast, LaBelle performed a soulful rendition of her holiday song, "Wouldn't It Be Beautiful".
Seventeen years later, she would make a comeback appearance in the 2007 Macy's Parade. While the parade was marching behind them, she was interviewed by Al Roker who was talking about the new NBC competition miniseries "Clash of the Choirs" in which LaBelle appeared as one of the judges.
LaBelle would finally return to the Parade's line of march in the 2017 Macy's Parade, appearing on "The Cranberry Cooperative" float from Ocean Spray. For her Thanksgiving 2017 appearance, she performed a holiday song, "Don't Save It All For Christmas Day", from her then-new album, Patti LaBelle and Friends: Home for the Holidays.
She would make another Macy's Parade appearance just three years later, now appearing in the reimagined 2020 Parade. LaBelle was originally scheduled to appear aboard the "Deck the Halls" float from Balsam Hill; however the float was pulled from the line of march days before filming of the 2020 Parade began. As a result, LaBelle would perform on a miniature stage in front of Macy's flagship Herald Square department store, joined by two couples dancing to her rendition of the Christmas classic, "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year".