Three years ago Queen Latifah flipped the script with The Dana Owens Album, letting us know that blues and jazz were just as much a part of her program as beats and flow. With a “been there, done that” attitude, she left hip-hop behind and moved into other territories. Unsurprisingly, confidence was everywhere in the new music. The singer had already received kudos for another move that widened her career circle: starring in such films as Bringing Down the House, Last Holiday, and Chicago. The same swagger that marked her approach to rap was central to her acting and singing. (Check her latest VH1 show, Bridging the Gap, which connects her with Eve.)

Now she’s back with Travelin’ Light, a smart follow-up to that jazzy debut that packs an even bigger punch. If performance is about charisma and commitment, Latifah is pushing all the right buttons. Some tracks explode, some get overtly sultry, and on the sweet bossa nova “Quiet Nights” she makes some tough vocal maneuvers seem like a breeze. We sat down for a chat about her new musical persona.

VH1: You sang live in front of the band on some tracks. It must be exciting to have those horns wailing right in front of you on something like “I’m Going To Live Until I Die.”

QUEEN LATIFAH: It’s the song I’m coming out to our tour. It’s my life anthem. I want to be someone who lives life to the fullest. I had a great example from my 94-year-old grandmother who took it ‘til the end. The pace of the song and energy is fun. And yeah, it’s a kick. I’ve been a big Sarah Vaughan fan, but I didn’t know that one. Prepping for this disc I bought a bunch of jazz - a whole lot of Quincy Jones. And what struck me was how lush his big band sound was. I made myself calm down eventually, but I knew I wanted something strong like this.

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Tags: Queen Latifah Hip Hop, Movies, Music

They have virtually the same skin tone, now the same stringy, translucent hair (as rocked by Latifah at last night’s Los Angeles premiere of Hairspray), and the same body type…er, well, whatever. Two out of three. Same! Think about it: have you ever seen them in the same place at the same time?

Truthfully, I know that Latifah’s and Donatella’s faces look virtually nothing alike. I just wanted an excuse to post my favorite picture ever of Donatella (the one directly above: duh). After you’re done drooling over it, let it serve as a warning: her teeth are taking over the world, whether you like it or not.

[All images: Getty]

Tags: Queen Latifah Donatella Versace, Movies