Destiny’s Child grad and all-around sweetheart Kelly Rowland unveils her second solo album, Ms. Kelly

INSTINCT: Do you make your friends call you Ms. Kelly?

KELLY ROWLAND: Oh, no, not at all. They don’t play that. [Laughs]

What inspired the title?

There’s so much sass in the record that it deserves a sassy title.

And it reflects where you are in your life, right?

With confidence and maturity, definitely.

There are a lot of songs about moving past heartbreak.

I wanted the theme of the album to be the healing process of a breakup, you know?

What’s the worst date you’ve ever been on?

It was a blind date and my mom’s girlfriend told me that her son was so fly. [Laughs] I remember calling my best friend from the ladies room. You know that rule: “Call me in five minutes and tell me something bad happened.”

One of your songs is all about how to make the fellas “comeback.” How does one work their “comeback”?

Go out there and just flaunt it!

What if you’re a gay guy with zero dancing ability?

It could be anything: your smile, the way you dance funny. [Laughs] ’Cause sometimes I bust a weird move on the dancefloor, myself! Or it could be the way you cook or talk to somebody: whatever keeps that other person coming back for more!

Do your gay fans go into a frenzy over you?

It’s not so much a frenzy. I just think we all relate. We all just want to be simply fabulous—which we are! I just aspire to be fabulous only onstage.

What about offstage?

I’m so not about the makeup and the hair—I’m such a bum. I actually think my gay fans would probably be a little bit disappointed! They’d be like, “Where are the lashes, honey? Where’s the hair?” I’m like, “Sorry, no makeup today, kids. I can’t do it.” [Laughs]

Your favorite restaurant in Houston is called This Is It, right?

Ooh, yes!

If we go together, what should I order?

Do you like beef?

If you’re paying!

Okay, I would have you get oxtails with rice and gravy and a little bit of macaroni and cheese with some green beans. It’s sooo good.

Do they have a dish there named after you?

No, but they’ve definitely been a part of my and Beyoncé’s growing up. I remember us going there every Sunday. Even when we go home now, we still go to This Is It! That is our spot.

Do you and the Destiny’s Child girls ever feel bitter about not winning Star Search?

[Laughs] No, not at all. I hope I don’t sound mean when I say this, but I feel like everything happens for a reason. We still prospered—Star Search did not hold us back.

Do you ever throw any of your Freddy Vs. Jason “Krueger’s hung like the dream child” lines out to your friends?

No, you have to pull that card for Freddy, ’cause he deserves it. It was so weird to talk to Robert Englund in full makeup and he’s just like, “What book are you reading right now?”

Who took longer in the makeup chair: Freddy or Destiny’s Child?

Look, I’m just gonna blame it on Robert Englund. [Laughs]

We interviewed Beyoncé in December, and she talked about a beloved gay uncle who died of AIDS. Do you remember him, too?

Oh my God, I loved him. Loved him. He made B’s prom dress, and the next year he was supposed to make mine, but unfortunately he passed before. He was such a joy and always so funny and we always wanted to be up under him. Some of my first and best memories of Beyoncé and the Knowles family were with Johnny. He was absolutely the best.

Does your birthday (February 11) conflict with Valentine’s Day?

If we’re in a relationship, you just have to get me two gifts. [Laughs]