Tori Kelly Wants to “Sneak Into” Theaters and Watch People Watch “Sing”

December 27, 2016 Andrea Dresdale

Illumination Entertainment/Universal PicturesTori Kelly is one of the stars of the new animated movie Sing, about a koala who stages a singing competition to try and save his failing theater. Tori plays Meena, a teenage elephant with a great voice, but crippling stage fright. She says Sing is such a feel-good film that she wants to go see it… just to see people’s reactions.

“I kinda want to sneak into every theater and just watch people watch the movie,” she laughs. “Because people just get so happy. It’s like, you’re rooting for these characters and you’re singing along and you’re clapping along and just from what I’ve noticed, people just can’t help it!”

Tori says that making the movie has been the realization of a childhood dream, and that she relates to Meena because “she tries to sort of figure out…’Why am I so afraid of being on stage?’ and once she is on stage and finally just lets herself go, she’s able to realize that the music is a lot bigger than her fear.”

Tori adds, “I still feel that all the time.”

The soundtrack of Sing, which also features Jennifer Hudson, Reese Witherspoon and Matthew McConaughey singing a variety of popular songs, was produced by Harvey Mason Jr. He calls Tori is “incredible” and, having worked with Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson and other greats, he thinks Tori is right up there with them.

“Tori Kelly is one of the easiest people I’ve ever worked with and she’s also one of the best singers I’ve ever worked with,” Mason tells ABC Radio. “She’s so accurate and so in tune…perfect timing, perfect delivery, she knows dynamically how to tell a story with her voice. She’s got all the tools to be one of the best singers ever.”