Joyful Noise, starring Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton and Keke Palmer hits theaters Friday, January 13. The 18-year-old Palmer, who plays Olivia in the film, had no problem transitioning from her Nickelodeon show to this more mature role, where she shares her first on-screen kiss. And she had no problem holding her own with this multitalented, multigenerational and multicultural cast. The young singer/actress even picked up a few tips and trade secrets from the CoverGirl and the country star.

Queen Latifah opens up about music, movies and love.

up: When did it click for you—the acting bug?
Q.L.: The movie Set It Off, for sure. I had met the director, F. Gary Gray, on the set of a music video. And I told him I wanted to play against type. All the roles I’d been offered had been Queen Latifah-roles. Or roles like Khadijah on Living Single. I wanted to play a villain, a lesbian, anything different from Latifah and Khadijah. When Set It Off came across Gary’s desk, he brought me in to audition. I got a prop gun from the Living Single set and I came there owning that Cleo role.