Will Smith’s daughter launches singing career
By Alexandra Heilbron on September 9, 2010 | 24 Comments
Will Smith‘s daughter Willow, 9, is trying to launch a singing career with the release of a new single, “Whip My Hair.” Willow already has three years acting experience under her belt, starting with a role in her father’s 2007 movie I Am Legend. Her brother Jaden, 12, who made his film debut opposite his father in The Pursuit of Happyness, at age 8, recently starred in the remake The Karate Kid, his third major motion picture. What do you think? Some are saying Willow sounds a lot like Rihanna, but are crediting auto tune and her daddy’s money for this single. Personally, I found having “I whip my hair back and forth” shouted nonstop more than a little annoying. Is it time for Smith and his actress wife Jada Pinkett Smith to stop pimping their kids out? Do you think they should let their kids enjoy their childhoods, or do you think it’s great that they’re following in their parents’ footsteps at such young ages? ~Alexandra Heilbron [Poll=218]
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she sure doesnt sound like shes 9 years old !!! wow. i think they should make their children BE children first, if they want to act and sing, let them do it once they are adults.
That is the worst song I’ve ever heard. I couldn’t listen to the whole thing, it’s too awful. And I agree with mandee, they should wait until they’re 18 to decide if they want to be in showbiz.
She has a nice voice, and although the song is annoying lyrically, it sounds like most of the poppy-kid music out there right now.
I partly agree they should be kids while they have the chance, but on the other hand, they have the opportunities and exposure now. If this is what they want to do, with no pressure from either Will or Jada, then fine. But if this is being put on them because its expected of a ‘hollywood family’, then this isnt the best experience for either child.
Those children have an unfair advantage.Talent doesn’t count.What is important is if the parents have the right connections.And money also help.
I think that these days there are a lot of kids artist… and if the want to do it… why not… as long as it doesn’t interfer with their school work… some kids are born to act/sing…etc… and since she can… why not…. sometimes people are so negative… why can’t they have a life that involves them doing what they like like acting or singing… a long with kids stuff (schools, friends, play… be a mall rat)? why does it have to be one thing or another… it’s all about balance… you’re not gonna tell a kid she can’t do ballet cause she’s too young and wait till you’re a adult to do it…
I think Willow has amazing talent and we need alot more great roll models like her for our kids. Good luck to you Willow, and follow your dreams. I always tell my girls to stay in school and follow your dreams!!!
Sounds like Willow is naturally talented. I agree the repetition is annoying but again, so is a lot of the crap out there playing on the air now coming from adults. With respect to the kids being kids, I don’t think kids who belong in these celebrity families can be normal kids. What I mean is they will never be like the kid next door whose mother is a nurse and father is an accountant. They are subjected to much more, much earlier in life and as long as their parents are pushing them it’s all good. YOU GO LITTLE GIRL!
I was a very talented kid too, artwork such as drawing and sculpting, doodling or painting. I enjoyed fixing things and was very creative, athletic too. I even did some singing, but because I was one of three children living with a single parent, who didn’t make much, my opportunity slipped away.
I was given a recommendation to a school for the gifted at the same age as Willow, I had too little money and no transportation.
It’s sad when we don’t get to follow our dreams.
If I had the chance like Willow, I would be doing whatever my talented little heart told me to do as well.
She’s got the right support and connections.
Don’t forget, just because children are acting or singing, doesn’t mean they’re not being kids, or they’re being robbed of their childhood.
I’m sure they can do whatever they choose and Will and Jada would support them.
Great song!
I have not heard the song, but think of it this way, if a race horse has won a lot of races it goes to reason if you breed with another horse of exceptional calibre then you’d start creating super horses. The Smith or Pinkett-Smith family is choc full of talent, singing, dancing, rapping, acting so to nurture that is great. My only concern is the age. The % of child stars growing up and still making it in the real world is slim. I mean soon parties with drugs and drinking and such WILL be front and centre. I’m sure the Smith’s think they have a great family core, but the pressure is there. Will they regret exposing their kids to this industry at such an early age and letting them participate in it, or will the kids blossom and be truly original great singers/actors/entertainers AND role models and break the mold that was set by Lohans/Hiltons (not that Hilton is an entertainer or talented in any way), or Danny Bonnaducci (Spelling), Dana Plato or Drew Berrymore. On the flip side at least Drew Berrymore turned everything around and is better than ever.
Time will tell….
I totally agree with DABII,Sept9th@ 3.04pm.Well said!!!
It’s catchy. I’d like to hear her voice without all the added special effects…..3 or more years from now.
123 on September 9, 2010 11:43 AM im not being “negative” by stating that i think they should wait until they are adults to start WORKING for a living. ballet and becoming a celeb are two completely different things. becoming famous clearly changes people, and look at most of the child stars and how they have turned out as the years went on. should we really think its not because they were thrown into stardom at too young of an age? having millions of people screaming at you, possibly having stalkers and getting hate mail thats threatening you, having to deal with the fans, going on stage in front of millions of people, having to have tons of security to ensure your safety is NOT something children should have to endure. imagine the stress and anxiety this gives ADULTS in show business? why allow your children to suffer the same way you and your wife have, when you can simply say no wait until youre finish school and have lived a little bit to decide if thats what you really want to do.
jennifer on September 9, 2010 1:34 PM i agree that their lives are more than likely different than those children who have normal parents, but thats partly the parents fault. if they kept their children out of the public eye, no one would know who their child was and they could attend normal school and have normal friends without feeling threatened by other people and without the parents having to worry if they are going to be ok or not.
I really hope that this is little Willow’s passion, and that she gets protected from the inevitable backlash that follows this release… Because it is annoying as shit. If this is a task given by her parents to ensure a trust fund… Ew.
I think that if a child has the talent and desire to be an actor or singer then they should be supported in the pursuit of it but the parents MUST be there to ensure balance is maintained. That the child doesn’t miss out on being a child and that they realize that the show biz life is not real life and may not last, that the how you others see you isn’t as important as how you and your family and friend see you, the real person. Isn’t that the parent’s role giving a child roots & wings. As to all the comments about the majority of child actors growing into damaged adults, we remember the horror stories more than the sucess stories as they are more, shall we say, exciting. But let me remind you of Jodi Foster, Ron Howard, Kurt Russell, Rick Schroder, Shirley Temple, Neil Patrick Harris, Michael J. Fox, Jason Bateman, just to name a few that did make it to adult careers without self-destructing. What I have read or hear about them is that their parents parented, helped the child maintain a balanced life and a realistic self image.
Good for her! Rhianna type style, she’ll go far!
I think Willow is a great singer and actress.So if Willow want to be a singer and actress I think she should follow her dreams and goals. I also think that her parents are great parents and they have raise their kids just great and they do a good job of being parents.
I think the whole Smith family is great at the theatre busisness and I hope they continue the theatre busisness
as along as they live.I think Willow and Jaden Smith will go far in life because their parents did. So they can too as well. So Willow you will go far in life and I wish you all the best luck in the future.
Awesome, good for her….supportive parents helping children do what they want to do….good song for kids.
Hey Mandee.. don’t feel i was directing an attack on you… i was not saying you… i always think… if they are bad kids.. whether they work in or out of the industry they will become bad… there are some that got their head screwed on straight… don’t think that only kids that are in the industry are exposed to drugs, partying, drinking etc… we don’t hear it cause there are sooo many…. we are aware of lindsay/britney cause they are stars… i did my fair share in my time… but i grew out of it…. i just think as parents you only can only do so much… i’m not a parent yet… and when i become one my views may change… but at this time that’s what i believe….. some people have a passion and like what they do… why not help them embrace it… i don’t think we should judge them on how others have become and only hope that the kid and the parents are doing it for the right reason… support is the best thing we can give them…
poor kid got daddy’s ears…
I’ve heard worse.
123 on September 10, 2010 7:52 AM i didnt really think it was an “attack” sorry if i came off rude, i was sleepy when i wrote that (working midnights and its hard to get back into the old routine!) i agree with your second comment, but i dont think acting and singing in front of huge groups should be considered at such a young age. its still work, no matter how you look at it. it will still be stressful and put a lot of unnecessary pressure on these kids. if they have a passion for singing and acting, why not do school plays? or the choir? or help out in church? (im not religious really, its just a suggestion!). i just think there are more productive things than allowing your child to perform in front of millions of people worldwide when they can still enjoy what they are doing and put it towards school or something. i just think stardom is too much for children to handle. i know what youre saying, if they are going to turn out bad they do, but isnt most of how children turn out their parents fault? i turned out great, my parents didnt really restrict me, so i had no need to want to rebel or break the law or do anything that was deemed bad when i was younger. to me, i just dont see why anyone would want their children to WORK.
True say, if they’re ready and it’s something they want to do then by all means. This is coming from the fact, though, that they have one advantage: they have parents in the industry who’ve been through it all and can provide proper guidance and assitance and PROTECTION for their children as opposed to what we normally see.
Everyone is different though, it’s easy to sit back here and say what they should and should not do with their children but we don’t know what kind of arrangments they’ve made, what they’ve discussed as a family nor the training their children have received to this point.
sash, good points, but their children shouldnt have received any type of training in their lives, they are children. they should be treated as such.
abousoulutely brilliant you cant top that and shes not like micheal jackson if u read her interview you’d she that SHE enjoys it..
GREAT WAY TO ENTER THE MUSIC BUSSISNESS.