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Pop Fans Say "Hit Me, Juice!"
Tonight's finale of Hit Me Baby One More Time (9 pm/ET on NBC) offers one last crop of yesteryear's pop stars a chance to shine. We at TVGuide.com were particularly intrigued to see Juice Newton's name on the list of performers. Back in the '70s, this upbeat songstress with the funky name gained fame with hits like "Queen of Hearts" and "Angel of the Morning." Here, she answers our prayers by fielding a few nagging questions. TVGuide.com: What current song did you choose for tonight's performance? Juice Newton: It was hard to pick because we gave them 35 songs and they turned down everything but one — "Pieces of Me" by Ashlee Simpson. TVGuide.com: True fans remember you wearing your hair super-long like Crystal Gayle. Does it still look that way?Newton: No! It is very short. It is all gone. TVGuide.com: I know you're performing "Quee
Tonight's finale of Hit Me Baby One More Time (9 pm/ET on NBC) offers one last crop of yesteryear's pop stars a chance to shine. We at TVGuide.com were particularly intrigued to see Juice Newton's name on the list of performers. Back in the '70s, this upbeat songstress with the funky name gained fame with hits like "Queen of Hearts" and "Angel of the Morning." Here, she answers our prayers by fielding a few nagging questions.
TVGuide.com: What current song did you choose for tonight's performance?
Juice Newton: It was hard to pick because we gave them 35 songs and they turned down everything but one — "Pieces of Me" by Ashlee Simpson.
TVGuide.com: True fans remember you wearing your hair super-long like Crystal Gayle. Does it still look that way?
Newton: No! It is very short. It is all gone.
TVGuide.com: I know you're performing "Queen of Hearts," but can we talk about "Angel in the Morning"? As an Angel myself, I've been tortured and teased with that song my whole life.
Newton: I bet! It's a cool song, a very powerful song. To this day, whenever I sing it, I have to really get ready for that song. It takes a lot of energy.
TVGuide.com: I had an English teacher who'd sing it to me every morning when I walked into class.
Newton: Oh gosh. Did you just want to deck him?
TVGuide.com: Yeah. After awhile, it got a little old.
Newton: I gotcha.
TVGuide.com: Where did the name Juice come from?
Newton: My extended family gave it to me. I think I probably would have picked something more catchy.
TVGuide.com: Juice isn't catchy? Seems pretty distinctive.
Newton: Well, people would get confused. "What is this? Is it a man or a woman or a product or a band name?" It was hard to straighten out, but now it sounds completely normal to me. I don't even give it a second thought.
TVGuide.com: Did you ever get teased about your name?
Newton: Not too much. I think that the women thought it was funny — and the men thought it was somewhat alluring.
TVGuide.com: Lastly, we can't resist asking: Have you any connection to the similarly named '70s pop star Olivia Newton John?
Newton: [Laughs] I've met Olivia a couple of times and been [horseback] riding with her on her property before her daughter was born.