>> IT WAS SO EXCITING FOR US.

AND AN ALMOST LIKE A DREAM, BECAUSE WE DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SHOWBIZ.

>> Bonnie Erbe: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF WORKING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> AS WE GREW OLDER, WE STARTED TO HAVE DIFFERENT CREATIVE IDEAS.

WE HAD SO MANY IDEAS THAT WE WANTED TO EXPLORE, AND THAT WAS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO WITHIN THE GROUP.

AND SO, WE BRANCHED OFF INTO INDIVIDUAL MUSICAL PURSUITS.

LEGENDARY IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND GENERATION OF SISTER SLEDGE.

[MUSIC] >> Bonnie Erbe: HELLO.

I AM BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY", A WEEKLY DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

THIS WEEK FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST.

WE HAVE DEBBIE SLEDGE OF THE ORIGINAL GROUP SISTER SLEDGE.

YOU'VE OF COURSE FOR THEIR ICONIC MUSICS, SUCH AS WE ARE ♪ ♪ FAMILY.♪ ♪ I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO SING ♪ ♪ IT.♪ ♪ [MUSIC] ♪ ♪ >> WE ARE FAMILY.♪ ♪ I'VE GOT ALL MY SISTERS WITH ME!

>> Bonnie Erbe: WE WILL NOT ONLY TALK ABOUT THE MUSIC WE ALL DANCED TO BACK IN THE '70s AND EVER SINCE.

SISTER SLEDGE DOES NOT REST ON HER LAURELS.

SHE'S WORKING WITH A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF SLEDGES.

THEY CALL THEMSELVES SLEDGENDARY.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, DEBBIE, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR NEW SONGS.

>> Debbie Sledge: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

SLEDGENDARY.

IS THE SECOND GENERATION OF SISTER SLEDGE.

IT IS MY CHILDREN, CONSISTS OF MY CHILDREN, CAMILLE SLEDGE, DAVID SLEDGE, THADDEUS SLEDGE WHO IS MY SISTERS SON, HER ONLY SON, AND HIS PHENOMENAL.

HE IS PHENOMENAL, ALL OF THEM, THEY ARE PHENOMENAL PERFORMERS, AND MRS. TANYA TA WHO IS EXCELLENT.

SHE IS PHENOMENAL.

SUCH A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH ALL OF THEM.

I'M DISCOVERING THESE HIDDEN TALENTS IN THIS GREAT -- WE HAVE THIS GREAT CONNECTION.

WE HAVE THIS GREAT CHEMISTRY AS FAR AS THE MUTUAL RESPECT AND RESPECT FOR THE ARTS WITH AN AWESOME.

SO WERE HAVING A BALL.

AND ITS, YEAH -- SO WE ARE GOING OURSELVES SISTER SLEDGE FEATURING SLEDGENDARY.. WE ARE COMING OUT WITH A NEW SONG AND WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

SO THERE ARE RATERS AMONG THOSE, PRODUCERS AMONG US.

THE SONG IS CALLED FREE, AND WE ARE SO, SO EXCITED ABOUT RELEASING IT.

IT WILL BE RELEASED SOON, I BELIEVE ON 18 FEBRUARY.

>> Bonnie Erbe: TERRIFIC.

AND PLEASE TELL ME, LET'S GO BACK TO YOUR BEGINNING -- YOUR BEGINNINGS IN SHOW BUSINESS.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WORK WITH YOUR SISTERS?

>> Debbie Sledge: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE WERE PRETTY YOUNG WHEN WE STARTED.

SO IT WAS SO EXCITING FOR US!

AND IN ALMOST LIKE A DREAM, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SHOWBIZ, NOT MUCH AT ALL.

AND SO, WE HAD OUR MOM, WHO WAS A VERY STRONG PERSON, PROTECTING US AND STANDING UP AGAINST ANYBODY THAT CAME ALONG THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE WOULDN'T MAKE SURE THAT HER DAUGHTERS WERE PROTECTED.

THE EXCITING THING WAS TO MEET ALL OF THESE ICONIC MUSICIANS AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT WE LOOKED UP TO.

SO WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME JUST LEARNING, TRYING TO LEARN.

WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES A PROFESSIONAL SO AWESOME?

AND WE ALSO HAD MENTORS, OUR GRANDMOTHER WAS AN OPERA SINGER, AND SHE GAVE US SOME VOCAL LESSONS.

WE HAD WISE WOMEN AROUND US: MY GRANDMOTHER, MY AUNTS.

THEY WOULD GIVE US GREAT GREAT ADVICE LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU MEET THE SAME PEOPLE RISING UP AS YOU -- YOU KNOW, COMING DOWN AS YOU DO, RISING UP.

AND TREAT EVERYONE THE SAME.

IVE EVERYONE RESPECT.

THINGS LIKE APPRECIATE WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND YOU, APPRECIATE PEOPLE WHO HELP YOU, APPRECIATE THOSE THINGS> Bonnie Erbe: TELL ME WHO -- WHO THE BIG PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS WHOM YOU MET.

HE PLAYED AT THE WHITE HOUSE, YOU PLAYED BEFORE -- OR YOU MET WITH THE POPE.

YOU HAD ALL THESE INCREDIBLE, YOU KNOW, ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITIES.

WHO DID YOU MEET BACK THEN?

WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU?

HOW DO THEY INFLUENCE YOU?

>> Debbie Sledge: I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO SAY AND HAPPY TO SAY THAT MOST OF THE ARTISTS THAT WE MET WERE VERY KIND AND THEY OFFERED ADVICE, WHICH WE JUST TOOK IN LIKE A SPONGE.

THERE IS BILL WITHERS, WHO IS AN AWESOME ARTIST.

WE LOVED, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH HIM.

JUST DOWN TO EARTH.

THERE WAS WHITNEY HOUSTON, WHOSE JUST -- BLEW MY MIND.

BEAUTIFUL.

ARETHA FRANKLIN.

SO STRONG.

JAMES BROWN.

AND ALL THESE PEOPLE WERE SO KIND TO US.

AND I'M JUST -- YOU KNOW, I FEEL SO VERY BLESSED AND HONORED TO MEET -- MET THESE AWESOME ICONS OF -- OF THE ARTISTRY.

>> Bonnie Erbe: AND WHAT WAS THE TIMEFRAME FOR THAT?

PLEASE?

>> Debbie Sledge: BASICALLY, THIS IS OVER THE YEARS.

I THINK I MET WHITNEY HOUSTON IN THE YEAR 2000.

WE DID A NEW YEAR'S EVE SHOW TOGETHER.

WE MET A LOT OF THESE WONDERFUL ARTISTS DURING THE ALI FIGHTS IN THEIR IN -- ZAIRE, AFRICA.

IT WAS CALLED A RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE, AS IT WAS LATER CALLED.

THERE ARE SO MANY ARTISTS ON THAT TRIP THAT WE WERE JUST IN HEAVEN.

JUST SEEING AS MUCH AS WE COULD SEE, LEARNING IS MUCH AS WE CAN LEARN.

AND IT WAS JUST GREAT.

>> Bonnie Erbe: AND WHO GAVE YOU THE BEST ADVICE AND WHAT WAS IT?

>> Debbie Sledge: OKAY.

THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK THE BEST ADVICE WOULD HAVE COME FROM -- I'LL SAY -- I'LL SAY -- WELL, THEY WERE SO MANY DIFFERENT ONES.

BUT I'M THINKING OF BILL WITHERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED IS TO BE PROFESSIONAL, TO SHOW UP ON TIME, TO DO YOUR JOB, AND TO -- TO WALK KINDLY.

AND THAT IS WHAT I SAW IN MOST OF THESE ARTISTS, THAT THE ONES WHO WERE ACTUALLY ON THE TOP, WHO WERE AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME, WHERE THE MOST HUMBLE, MOST RESPECTFUL.

I THINK BERNARD EDWARDS FROM CHIC GAVE US THAT -- THAT, I'D SAY, THAT I LEARNED THAT FROM HIM, AS HE WAS SUCH A GENTLEMAN AND SO PROFESSIONAL.

AND HE -- HE SPOKE KINDLY TO US AND POINTED OUT THINGS THAT WE COULD CHANGE, WITH THINGS THAT WE COULD DO BETTER.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.

>> Bonnie Erbe: AND NOW THE MUSIC INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED SO MUCH.

AND OF COURSE, YOU ARE WORKING WITH YOUNGER MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY, PRESUMABLY VERY INTERNET SAVVY.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THEM AND HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY?

>> Debbie Sledge: ONE OF THE THINGS -- WELL, WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO, FOR ONE THING, I'M LEARNING FROM THEM PRODUCTION, BECAUSE I WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN THAT END.

MY SISTER ACTUALLY WAS, JONI.

SHE ACTUALLY WON AN AWARD, A GRAMMY NOMINATION FOR HER -- HER PRODUCTION OF OUR CD CALLED AFRICAN EYES.

SHE WANTS SOMETHING FOR THAT.

AND VERY PROUD OF HER.

BUT I'M LEARNING FROM THIS YOUNGER GENERATION THAT THAT SIDE OF THE INDUSTRY, WHICH IS PRODUCTION, AND BEING IN TUNED WITH ALL DIFFERENT GENRES OF MUSIC AND INCORPORATING THAT INTO YOUR PRODUCTION, I'M AMAZED AT WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

THEY ARE DOING SOME THINGS THAT ARE ISLAND BEATS, SOME THINGS THAT ARE AFRICAN, SOME THINGS THAT ARE HOUSE.

AND THEY ARE USING THOSE ELEMENTS TO COME OUT WITH SOME, SOME MIND-BLOWING, FOR ME, EXCELLENT, YOU KNOW, AND STUDENTS.

AND THEY ARE ALSO VERY AWARE OF THE MESSAGES.

AND THAT IS -- YOU KNOW, I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT, THAT THEY ARE -- THE MESSAGES MEAN SOMETHING.

BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THAT THIS IS AN INFLUENCE.

SO THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IN THE MUSIC.

[MUSIC] >> Bonnie Erbe: YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR YOUNGER RELATIVES BEING VERY KEEN ON MESSAGING.

WAS THAT POSSIBLE WHEN YOU ARE GETTING STARTED IN THE '70s, WAS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN TO MESSAGE, OR WAS -- WERE THINGS SO DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY, WAS RACIAL BIAS EVEN SO MUCH WORSE THAN IT IS NOW THAT YOU COULDN'T REALLY MESSAGE?

YOU HAD TO STICK TO LOVE SONGS AND DANCE, YOU KNOW, GREAT BEATS AND DANCE MUSIC.

>> Debbie Sledge: WELL, IN THE INDUSTRY, YES.

WHEN WE WERE COMING UP, WE DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF SAY-SO INTO WHAT WE ACTUALLY -- WHAT WE ACTUALLY SANG IN THE STUDIO ACCESS TO EITHER DO IT OR NOT DO IT.

SO THEY WERE -- THERE WAS SOME MESSAGING THAT WE JUST DIDN'T DO.

BUT AS FAR AS OUR SONGS, WE WERE WRITING SONGS BACK THEN, BUT NOBODY WOULD LISTEN TO THEM.

SO THAT NOBODY WOULD EVEN KNOW WHAT WAS -- WHAT WE HAD TO GIVE IN THAT SENSE IN THE AREA OF THE SONGWRITING.

MY SISTERS WERE -- ARE VERY TALENTED SONGWRITERS.

IN JONI'S MUSIC WAS NEVER RELEASED, RIGHT NOW, BUT SHE DID PRODUCE ANOTHER ALBUM WHICH HAS ALL OF HER MESSAGING IN IT, AND IT'S EXCELLENT.

SHE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

SHE ACTUALLY WROTE SONGS ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

AND SONGS THAT WOULD -- WOULD ACTUALLY GIVE US A MESSAGE OF -- UPLIFTING MESSAGES AND STRONG MESSAGES ABOUT HOW SHE FELT ABOUT ISSUES.

THAT IS WHAT MY CHILDREN ARE DOING NOW.

THEY REALIZE THAT MUSIC RIGHT NOW IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, AND THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO LET OUR VOICE BE HEARD.

>> Bonnie Erbe: WHEN YOU SEE SOME RAP ARTISTS, WHAT YOU THINK?I'M THINKING ABOUT CARDI B, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO USES A SLUR OF FOUR LETTER WORDS IN HER MUSIC AND USES THE B WORD TO TALK ABOUT OTHER WOMEN.

AND DO YOU -- DOES IT STING YOU WHEN YOU HEAR YOUNG ARTISTS DOING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS NOW?

>> Debbie Sledge: I'M GOING TO SAY -- I'M GOING TO SAY NO IN THE SENSE THAT I WANT AN ARTIST TO EXPRESS WHO THEY ARE AND -- AND WHAT THEY FEEL.

IN THE SENSE OF CREATIVITY, I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE ANYTHING HOLDING THAT BACK.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I DO FEEL THAT AS ARTISTS, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC PLACE.

AND WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WE ARE SPEAKING.

WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE CAN HAVE AN INFLUENCE.

WE CAN MAKE CHANGE.

WE CAN DIRECT THE LISTENER TO ANOTHER AREA OF -- OF THOUGHT IN THAT SENSE.

WE CAN LET PEOPLE KNOW.

WE CAN SAY THINGS THAT ARE UPLIFTING AND WE CAN ALSO DIRECT, THIS IS THE WAY I FEEL.

I FEEL THAT IT'S BETTER TO GO THIS WAY.

BUT THIS IS MY FEELING.

IN THOSE PEOPLE WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THAT OR WHO LISTEN TO THAT AND WILL LIKE THAT, THEY'LL CHOOSE THAT.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN SAYING, WELL, THAT'S NOT GOOD AND THAT'S NOT GOOD.

>> Bonnie Erbe: AND HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT RAP GENERALLY?

HAS IT BEEN GOOD OR BAD FOR BLACK WOMEN?

>> Debbie Sledge: OF -- OH, THEY ARE -- YOU KNOW, IT IS A GENRE THAT IS, IN THE SENSE, RAP IS A GREAT GENRE BECAUSE YOU CAN EXPRESS WORDS AND WORDS MAY CHANGE.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, AS I WAS SAYING, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THE GENRE THAT ARE -- THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE USING IN A WAY THAT IS DETRIMENTAL OR IS DOWNGRADING SOMEONE ELSE.

IT'S DOWNGRADING -- IT MIGHT BE DOWNGRADING TO WOMEN, IT MIGHT BE DOWNGRADING OR IT MIGHT BE DISRESPECTFUL TO ELDERS.

IF IT'S INFLUENCING A YOUNG PERSON'S THOUGHT ABOUT THE WORD OR ABOUT THE PARENTS, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN HONOR.

I BELIEVE IN -- IN THAT US AS ELDERS, AND I CONSIDER MYSELF ONE NOW, WE HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER.

[LAUGHTER] >> Bonnie Erbe: BELIEVING IN THAT, DO YOU THINK THAT HAS COST YOU SALES OF RECORD SALES OR OF, YOU KNOW, CD OR LIVE STREAMING, WHATEVER?

DO YOU THINK, BECAUSE YOU DON'T USE THE B WORD IN THE N-WORD AND A LOT OF THESE WORDS THAT ARE USED BY RAP ARTISTS TODAY, HAS THAT COST YOU PART OF YOUR AUDIENCE?

>> Debbie Sledge: IT MAY HAVE, BUT I FEEL RICHER BECAUSE MY FREEDOM AND MY -- MY CHOICE TO EXPRESS MYSELF IS MORE VALUABLE THAN THAT.

MY CHOICE TO BE HAPPY, TO LOVE WHAT I'M DOING IS MORE VALUABLE THAN RECORD SALES, FOR INSTANCE.

>> Bonnie Erbe: IS THAT THE KIND OF EFFECT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ON MUSIC?

OR WHAT WOULD YOU SEE THE IMPACT OF NOT JUST YOUR GROUP WITH YOUR SISTERS, BUT YOUR GROUP WITH YOUR YOUNGER FAMILY, YOUR NIECES AND NEPHEWS AND DAUGHTER?

WHAT IMPACT HAVE YOU HAD AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ON MUSIC?

>> Debbie Sledge: I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE CHOICE THAT WE'VE MADE AS A GROUP, ME AND MY SISTERS, BECAUSE IT HAS AFFECTED OUR CHILDREN.

IT HAS AFFECTED OTHER FAMILIES.

ND WE GET SO MUCH FEEDBACK.

AND THAT IS -- EVEN OUR AUDIENCES TO THIS DAY, WOW, THEY ARE JUST WILD WITH EXCITEMENT AND JOY.

HAVING A RICH LIFE IS NOT NECESSARILY WATCHING THE RECORD SALES, AND I BELIEVE THAT ACTUALLY, WE HAVE DONE PRETTY GOOD.

OUR RECORD SALES A GREAT AND I BELIEVE THEY WILL CONTINUE.

MY JOY IS SEEING PEOPLE'S LIVES AFFECTED.

THERE IS -- THERE'S A LOT OF FUN OUT THERE TO BE HAD.

>> Bonnie Erbe: TELL ME SOME OF THE STORIES OF WHAT FANS HAVE TOLD YOU OVER THE YEARS ABOUT HOW YOUR MUSIC DID INFLUENCE THEM.

>> Debbie Sledge: OH, WELL, THERE'S A VERY, YOU KNOWé -- MY DAUGHTER POINTED OUT THE OTHER DAY THAT IF YOU ARE JUST LOOKING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THERE ARE MILLIONS OF AMILIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD DANCING AND SINGING TO WE ARE FAMILY.

AND I WAS SHOCKED.

SHE SHOWED ME JUST RECENTLY.

AND I WAS -- IT WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE.

AND MEAN, IT'S COMING FROM AFRICA, IT'S COMING FROM THE -- WELL, OF COURSE THE UK.

WE HAVE FAMILY IN THE UK.

IT'S COMING FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND IT'S JUST AMAZING.

AND THEY ARE TELLING THEIR STORIES AND THEY ARE SHOWING EACH OTHER, THE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.

AND I JUST THINK IT'S AWESOME.

>> Bonnie Erbe: YOU KNOW, LAST MONTH, OF COURSE WE OBSERVED THE MARTIN LUTHER KING BIRTHDAY.

TELL ME ABOUT HOW HIS LIFE IMPACTED YOU.

>> Debbie Sledge: GREATLY.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, AS I WAS GROWING UP AS THE LITTLE GIRL, HE WAS ON THE SCENE AND WAS ALWAYS -- I WAS AROUND WHEN HE WAS MURDERED WHEN HE DIED.

I -- MY FAMILY, AND I BELIEVE BACK THEN, MOST FAMILIES LOOKED AT HIM AS SUCH A -- AND ALSO THEM, GIANT LEADER FOR PEACE AND FOR DIGNITY OF THE BLACK, BLACK AMERICANS.

AND THEY ROSE UNITY AMONG BLACK AMERICANS TO HAVE THAT, THAT SENSE OF PRIDE AND WORK.

AND WE DID NOT -- WE DID NOT BUY THE OPPOSITION THAT SAID YOU DON'T DESERVE THIS OR YOU DON'T DESERVE THAT OR YOU CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T EXCEL AND YOU ARE NOT PRETTY, YOU'RE NOT INTELLIGENT.

ALL THESE MESSAGES WERE COMING ALONG, BUT WE KNEW THAT THAT WASN'T THE TRUTH.

AND MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS ONE OF THE ICONS WHO SPOKE THE TRUTH FOR EVERYONE.

HE WAS A VOICE FOR THE BLACK, BLACK AMERICAN RACE, AND FOR THE WORLD, ACTUALLY.

>> Bonnie Erbe: DO YOU THINK YOU ARE -- I HEARD SOME COMMENTATORS SAY THAT THEIR LIVES, YOU KNOW, HE GAVE UP HIS LIVES SO THAT THEIRS COULD BE BETTER.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT AS WELL?

>> Debbie Sledge: I -- I COULD SAY THAT, YES.

I COULD SAY THAT, BECAUSE IN THE SENSE HE KNEW THE DANGER THAT WAS AROUND HIM, BUT IT WAS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO SPEAK THAT TRUTH INTO SPEAK, SPEAK OUT ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE THAT HE LOVED, AND HE LOVED ALL PEOPLE.

WHEN HE WAS A SPOKESMAN, HE SPOKE THE HEART OF THE BLACK AMERICANS AT THAT TIME.

AND HE KNEW ABOUT THE DANGER, YEAH.

>> Bonnie Erbe: HE CERTAINLY DID.

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF WORKING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> Debbie Sledge: WELL, YES.

I WILL TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS WELL, YES.

I WILL TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS 1ST: THE BENEFITS OF WORKING ON FAMILY MEMBERS IS THERE'S SO MUCH FUN.

THERE IS SO MUCH FUN BEHIND-THE-SCENES.

WE KNOW EACH OTHER SO WELL, AND I HAD THE MOST COMICAL SISTERS.

[LAUGHTER] WE HAD SOME FUNNY, FUNNY THINGS GOING ON.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PLAYACTING GOING UP.

THERE WAS A LOT OF -- OF MAKING EACH OTHER LAUGH.

I REMEMBER THAT VERY WELL.

I REMEMBER ALSO JUST HARMONIZING AND SINGING, THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

SO IN THAT SENSE, IT WAS A PLEASURE, JUST REHEARSALS, A PLEASURE RECORDING.

>> Bonnie Erbe: IN THE DOWNSIDE?

>> Debbie Sledge: OKAY.EAH, ON THE DOWNSIDE, IT WAS ALSO VERY HARD.

BUT IT IS EASIER WHEN THERE'S FAMILY MEMBERS AROUND.

YOU KEEP A GOOD ATTITUDE AND YOU ARE STILL JOKING.

WE'VE HAD SOME VERY, VERY DEMANDING TOURS.

BUT THAT, THAT IS MUCH EASIER WHEN YOU ARE AROUND FAMILY, BECAUSE WE ARE WATCHING OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

ON THE DOWNSIDE, AS WE GREW OLDER, WE STARTED TO HAVE DIFFERENT CREATIVE IDEAS.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF STRONG-WILLED WOMEN IN ONE ROOM AND THEY ALL HAVE A STRONG OPINION ABOUT THIS IS THE WAY THIS SUM SHOULD GO, THIS IS THE WAY THIS SONG SHOULD GO.

NO, I THINK IT SHOULD GO THIS WAY, THAT BECAME A LITTLE BIT ON THE DOWNSIDE.

SO WE DECIDED THAT -- IT DEPENDED ON WHAT SONG WE WERE SINGING AS TO WHO WOULD SING LEAD.

SO IF THE SONG, FOR INSTANCE, REQUIRED A LOT OF BUILDING, BIG, STRONG VOICE, THAT WOULD BE EITHER KATHY OR JONI.

KIM AND I HAVE SOFTER VOICES.

IF IT WAS A BALLET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT WOULD BE ME OR KIM.

BUT AS WE GOT OLDER, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY THEN BECAME -- ALL OF US BECAME SO, WE HAD SO MANY IDEAS THAT WE WANTED TO EXPLORE.

AND THAT WAS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO WITHIN THE GROUP.

SO WE BRANCHED OFF INTO INDIVIDUAL MUSICAL PURSUITS BECAUSE WE -- WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S BURNING IN YOU AS AN ARTIST, YOU WANT TO DO IT.

YOU WANT TO GET IT DONE.

SO RIGHT NOW WITH WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH IN SLEDGENDARY IS THE SAME THING.

WE HAVE SUCH -- BUT IS NOT ON THE DOWNSIDE, BECAUSE WE DECIDED WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT KIND OF MUSIC, WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT IT, AND WE ARE GOING TO GET IT TO ITS GREATEST PERFECTION.

AND THEN WE WILL CALL IT SLEDGENDARY IF YOU WANT IT.

AND IF IT'S NOT A SLEDGENDARY TUNE, IF YOU WANT TO DO IT AS AN INDIVIDUAL ARTIST, WE SUPPORT THAT TOO.

>> Bonnie Erbe: I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEBBIE SLEDGE, FOR SPENDING THIS TIME WITH US.

WE REALLY WISH YOU ALL GREAT SUCCESS WITH THE SLEDGENDARY BAND THAT YOU ARE NOW -- YOU KNOW, ANOTHER PART OF YOUR FAMILY ARE NOW YOUR PARTNERS IN MUSIC.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.

PLEASE KEEP THIS CONVERSATION GOING WITH US ON TWITTER, ON FACEBOOK, AND INSTAGRAM.

LEASE VISIT OUR PBS WEBPAGE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

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AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

[MUSIC] FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ONLINE EPISODE OF "TO THE CONTRARY," PLEASE VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.