Justin Bieber Sits Down With Ryan Seacrest on NBC Today, 9/13
By: Caryn Robbins Sep. 12, 2012
Justin Bieber sits down with NBC News Special Correspondent Ryan Seacrest for an exclusive interview airing today, September 13 on TODAY and ROCK CENTER WITH Brian Williams. Bieber chats with Seacrest about the details of his new book, Justin Bieber: Just Getting Started, out today, September 13. He also talks about his desire to not be just “another teen heartthrob,” the challenges he faces in the music industry, and what he’s striving for next.
Bieber’s mother, Pattie Mallette, joins the interview and reveals the name she almost gave her son when he was born. She also shares what Bieber was like as a mischievous young boy, all part of her new soon to be released book, Nowhere But Up: The Story of Justin Bieber’s Mom. Mallette will appear on “Today” to discuss more about her book in a special multi-part interview airing Tuesday and Wednesday September 18 and 19.
Below are excerpts from the interview with Ryan Seacrest airing on “Today” and “Rock Center with Brian Williams” today, September 13.
NOT JUST ANOTHER TEEN HEARTTHROB
I feel like I just don't want to be another teen heartthrob, 'cause that's just-- I just think that that just annoys me. To think that that's what people will-- will think of me-- or like I just want to prove people wrong.
Do you think you've made steps and taken steps to start doing that?
Yeah. I think Believe is really-- my new album has really showcased what I'm capable of—especially becoming an 18-year-old and becoming an adult. And hearing older people say, “Wow, this new album's great. Like I didn't know that was Justin Bieber." Or, you know, "Wow, like I never used to listen to Justin Bieber's music, and now I like his music." Or-- "This, As Long As You Love Me, that's Justin Bieber singing?"
Like I like those reactions, because I feel like they're now-- they're-- judging me based on my music and not based on, you know, my-- a flick of my hair. You know?
####
"I LOVE BEING THE UNDERDOG"
You-- you write in the book something interesting. You say that, "I love being the underdog."
Uh-huh.
You say, "It gives me and my fans something to do and to strive for next."
Uh-huh.
Do you still feel like you're the underdog?
I mean, at this point, I feel like in some ways, I'm-- I am the underdog. Because it's like there are people that don't believe that, you know, I can make the transition from being a teen pop star to an adult.
So, when you sit at home at night and think about your goals and the things you're striving for next, what's on that list?
Well, Grammys, ‘cause I haven't won a Grammy. So that's something that I've always -- when I was little, like, "Oh, my God, like what if I won a Grammy? That would be crazy." So that's one of the things that I'm still striving for.
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BIEBER'S MOM ALMOST NAMED HIS JESSE
What did you think when she revealed to you that she was going to call you Jesse, and, at the last minute, changed your name to Justin?
I was like-- I feel that I'm not a Jesse. So that would have been weird.
But you couldn't have that conversation in that moment.
Yeah. I'm not like, "Mom, don't name me Jesse, please."
PATTIE MALLETTE:
I called him Jesse the whole pregnancy. And then, once he was born, I was like, "No, he doesn't look like a Jesse. Justin."
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BIEBER ADMITS HE WAS 'NOT EASY' AS A KID
All the jobs that she took to provide for us. And just like how she had to give up her social life as a teenager to raise me. How she had to-- you know, there were so many struggles that she had to go through to be able to raise me, as an 18-year-old girl. You know, so I couldn't imagine raising a child now. So I give my mom-- you know, kudos to you, Mom.
PATTIE MALLETTE:
Thanks.
Because I was not easy.
PATTIE MALLETTE:
No, you were not easy.
Oh, please, share something. You can't just say that.
I was not easy. I got suspended from school like every year.
PATTIE MALLETTE:
Every year. He got kicked out of class.
Yeah. The first day of school, in 1st grade, I started making armpit fart noises in class.
PATTIE MALLETTE:
The first day of school, kicked out of class.
Yeah.
And you got the call, saying, "It's day one, and he's on his way home."
PATTIE MALLETTE:
She moved him to a different teacher.
She moved me to a different class, 'cause she said she couldn't handle me. In grade one.
PATTIE MALLETTE:
It's a true story.
It's in grade one, out of a class. I mean, who kicks a grade-one--
PATTIE MALLETTE:
You were so adorable, too.
Photo by: Lisa Rose/NBC
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