What do Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers, Jesse McCartney, and Rihanna have in common? They've all performed at the U.S. Open's Arthur Ashe Kids' Day just as they were on the brink of their careers -- and they turned into mega-stars!
Arthur Ashe Kids' Day is a fun-filled day of activities, which kicks off the only American Grand Slam tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York. And the tradition continues this year with performers The Wanted, Owl City, Carly Rae Jepsen, Mindless Behavior, and Rachel Crow.
J-14 Magazine talked exclusively to Rachel Crow about the event being held this Saturday -- and that will be aired nationally on CBS at 12 noon on Sunday, August 26 -- and about her recent tour with Big Time Rush and Cody Simpson.
J-14 Magazine: Arthur Ashe Kids' Day kicks off one of the biggest tennis tournaments in the world -- what is it like to be part of such a big celebration?
Rachel Crow: I'm excited. I can't wait. It's going to be so much fun. I'm very honored to do it.
J-14: Do you play tennis at all?
Rachel: Actually, I'm pretty mean at the ping pong table! (Laughs) I play against Cody Simpson. I beat him once and then he beat me like three times. I think that makes me kind of awesome that I beat him once!
J-14: So true! But at Arthur Ashe Kids Day, we'll have to get one of the tennis pros to train you and then you'll beat him every time?
Rachel: Yeah. I'll be sure to tell him you helped me out with that!
J-14: So if you were to play tennis with anyone from the Big Time Summer Tour, who would you play with?
Rachel: I think Alli [Simpson] actually would be on my team against Cody and Kendall [Schmidt]. Alli and I probably wouldn't win because we're very girly, but we would win something cooler -- swag!
J-14: That is more important! So what was it like spending your summer on the road with Big Time Rush?
Rachel: We had so much fun -- I got to learn so much about them. They were my tour family and I miss that now. You get to learn their likes and dislikes and their personalities more than if you just said hi. You just have so much fun -- the boys are like my brothers. The last show was Sunday and Kendall came on stage and sang "Valerie" with me. And then Carlos [Pena], Kendall, and Logan [Henderson] all came on stage for my last song and danced with me and said goodbye. It was just great. They're great.
J-14: And what about touring with Cody Simpson? He must have been so much fun -- at our last J-14 Magazine shoot, he would just burst out in song!
Rachel: He'll be doing dance moves randomly when you're trying to have a conversation too! But it's okay -- I like that! I sing randomly too! La, la, la! Cody and I are going to be BFFs -- he said he's going to miss me from the tour. I got his phone number finally so we can just hang out, so I was excited.
J-14: He wouldn't give you his phone number before that?
Rachel: No, that's not it. I never asked. But I'm sure he probably wouldn't have because I'm a little crazy. I texted him yesterday just to say that I was crazy but that I think we're going to be BFFs one day and he said "Okay, cool!" He said, "I miss your family" and I said, "I miss your family too and I miss the tour!"
J-14: What's it like to be affecting young girls out there with your songs -- especially the song "Mean Girls" about bullying?
Rachel: After every show of mine, I have an autograph signing. Every time I come up from the stairs or walk through the crowd, I see this line of probably about 1,000 or 2,000 people. It makes me feel so supported and so loved by them. I'm still freaked out why they see and scream because I'm just me! My first concert was Miley Cyrus' 'Best of Both Worlds' -- I didn't get to see her, but I saw her bus wrapped in her face. I'm not as as big as her, but it's amazing to get the support from all the amazing people. Moms will tell me, "Thank you for your song! It helped my daughter." And the little girls will come up to me and say, "Thank you -- I've been bullied," -- and they're 5! It's really sad. I wanted to make a difference and I'm hoping I'm doing that right now.