Thursday, 29 May 2008

Ne-Yo: Lindsay Lohan is 'ridiculously fabulous' on album

Ne-Yo admits he had his doubts but thinks 'the world is gonna be surprised' by LiLo's voice

Ne-Yo has contributed to Lindsay Lohan's third album

Ne-Yo admits he had his doubts about Lindsay Lohan's vocal talents when he was asked to write a song for her upcoming third album, due later this year.

"I gotta admit, we were like ... 'Lindsay Lohan?'" Ne-Yo tells Billboard magazine. "I mean, I've written for Beyonce Knowles, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Celine Dion and ... Lindsay Lohan?"

But after hearing her sing on the track, called "Bossy," Ne-Yo says he and producer Stargate were so impressed that he called Lohan to say how sorry he was for not believing in her. "She did a ridiculously fabulous job," Ne-Yo tells the magazine. "I was so shocked I had to call her and apologize for what I was thinking because she did so good. I think the world is gonna be surprised."

Earlier this month Ne-Yo told PEOPLE that he and Stargate approached the Lohan project "as a challenge. 'Can we make a song for Lindsay Lohan that people were gonna take seriously?' I think we did it," he said.

Even though Ne-Yo will release his own third album, Year of the Gentleman, on Aug. 15, he's also writing for other artists including Usher, Leona Lewis, and Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson – his song "Spotlight" will be the first single off her self-titled debut album, due in September. He has also submitted songs for Michael Jackson's next album, which does not yet have a release date.

Ne-Yo is currently on tour with Alicia Keys.

By Marisa Laudadio