Cyndi Lauper Reflects on Her School Days and Future Projects

Cyndi Lauper has recently shared some interesting anecdotes about her time in school, revealing she was “asked to leave” her Catholic school on two occasions.

“You can’t even read a regular book without a white sheet of paper under every line,” Lauper, 72, remarked during a conversation with Gracie Abrams on Rolling Stone’s “Musician on Musician,” which aired on October 17.

She humorously speculated about her expulsion, saying, “I don’t know if it’s because I got hit in the head with so many erasers. I went to a Catholic school, but I was asked to leave because we had a lot of political differences.” This wasn’t just a minor incident; she mentioned being expelled “once in his junior year and twice in his senior year.” Abrams, 26, jokingly questioned whether she was kicked out for “talking.”

Lauper responded with a laugh, “Oh no, no, no. Because you said it back.”

Reflecting on her early turbulent life, Lauper, who is part of the upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class, acknowledged how her experiences shaped her. At 17, she ran away from home and was later compelled to complete her high school diploma. “I spent many years not accepting who I was,” she recalled, feeling misplaced and isolated during her high school years.

Despite the challenges, Lauper has continued to evolve as an artist. She admitted that, after more than four decades, she’s “still learning,” particularly regarding songwriting and navigating the music industry. “Sometimes you write something and you’re like, ‘Wow, look what we did! That’s genius!’ And then the next day you hear about it and you’re like, ‘What the hell was I thinking?'” she shared during her conversation with Abrams.

Still, the “Time After Time” singer, known for her enduring hits, remains a favorite among fans. During her farewell tour’s final show, she had a memorable moment when she performed “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” with Cher, saying, “You’re the queen,” to which Cher replied, “No, you’re a fucking queen.”

Even after concluding her farewell tour, Lauper has plans to dive into a musical adaptation of “Working Girl.” “That’s basically what I’ve been doing for 10 years,” she explained, highlighting the unique challenges of Broadway work. “That doesn’t mean I don’t work,” she added, clarifying that while she might not tour, her creative endeavors continue.