Interview: Denise Jonas

At the June 8 kickoff event in Times Square for the Quaker Chewy Superstar Search, Nick Jonas set young hearts aflutter with his stomach-flipping smile and sultry croon. But we were interested in the one who started it all—his mother. Time Out Kids chatted with Denise Jonas, mother of the Jonas Brothers members (Kevin, 23, Joe, 21, and Nick, 18) and their younger sibling, Frankie, 10, about raising celebrity sons, balancing work and family, and her teenage crush on Harrison Ford.
 
Nick seemed really confident and charismatic onstage. What’s it like watching your son work a room like that?
It's fun. He’s in a funny mood today. Nick's quite a serious person. I’m really proud of him. I actually cried at one point, just listening to him and singing along. It never gets old.
 
When did it first click for you that your sons were becoming international superstars?
Oh gosh, I don’t think there was a specific moment. We just watched it grow. We worked so hard, the entire family worked so hard together. I think hearing their songs on the radio, and just going places…I think probably the craziest time was in Peru. There were so many people outside the hotel, singing all night. And in Peru, at Lima, the fog rolls in at night and you can’t see anything. I couldn’t believe they stayed out there for 24 hours. And they sang the whole time.
 
Your schedule must be insanely hectic. How do you work in family time?
Because my sons are working together and they’re family, we've had to learn how to balance work and family and not let the two interfere in a negative way. My husband and I really dedicate ourselves to being with them when they travel and being together as a family. That’s why we got married and had kids in the first place, because we wanted to be together. We always just try to have time together, daily. When we’re home, we eat together—we always eat as a family. It’s harder now because they’re older, but when opportunities like this provide us with time together, it’s great.
 
You have a home in Dallas now. Would you ever consider moving to New York City?
I would love to live in New York City, someday. My oldest, Kevin, actually lives in New Jersey right now with his wife, and we’re from New Jersey, so we’re used to living close to the city. New York is a great place.
 
What are some of your favorite things to do when you’re in the city?
Well…I love to eat when I’m here [Laughs]. The feel of the city, the life, the vibe—it's all so exciting here.
 
Compared to other young celebrities, your sons seem to have maintained a level of sanity despite their fame. As a parent, how do you work to keep your sons grounded?
I think you really just have to work at it. You have to make a constant effort every day to be aware of who you are. My husband said to Nick, “Just know that there’s always somebody out there who’s working harder than you." You have to be aware that you can always be replaced and you need to work hard. I think the fans have been such a blessing: The boys have learned how to really embrace other people and love them. As a family, we’ve always had guests in our home and had different people live with us, so I think they understand how to open up and embrace other people. I think that really helped them to allow people into their lives and to think about others before themselves.
 
Any thoughts on the hoards of tween girls fawning over your sons?
Well, I love that there are other people that love them like I do. I remember being a teen girl and being in love with Harrison Ford, and I think it’s great that [these girls] have that same passion. It’s really neat to see. I never get mad about that; I just can’t.
 
One last question: what’s your favorite Jonas Brothers song?
My favorite song of Nick’s is “Olive and an Arrow” off of his Administration album [Who I Am]. And my favorite of the boys’ is “Pushing Me Away.”