Along that golden beach
by Mark Wyckoff
When Janet Met David
by Janet Fife-Yeomans
Message to the World
by Dann Dulin, A & U Magazine
December 1999
Q&A with Katie Cassidy 
Katie
Cassidy
May 2002
Q : You are a very new name in the music scene. We hardly heard anything about you until now. So we would like to get to know you better. Can you please tell us about your family; your mom, dad, siblings, pets; and what are their names?
Katie : Well first off I live with my mom, Sherry and my step dad, Richard. My mom married my step dad when I was four so he is the father figure in my life and I don't really consider him as a "step father". He's my dad. My biological dad, David of course, lives in Vegas and I used to see him a lot but since he has been touring I don't get to see him as often. I think it's really cool to have two dads who love and care about me as much as they do! My mom, Sherry has been a big help and has supported me with my singing and I am so happy to have a mother who believes in me and works as hard as she does. She has strong values and I have gotten them from her. I also have two sisters who I have lived with my whole life. Jenna is 18 and is graduating from high school next month and will go to Cal Poly. My other sister; Jamie is 20 and goes to the University of Washington. I have 3 dogs, one named Doodle, she's my favorite, another named Jack and then there's Sophie… she's just lazy and sits around, but I love her. I also have a pet desert turtle, Myrtle.
Q : Have you started dating yet?
Katie : No, I haven't gone on a real date where the guy comes to the house, meets your parents and takes you to dinner and then drops you off. My mom says I can't date until I'm 16. I do go out a lot with groups of friends though and that's fun.
Q : Do your sisters and your half brother, Beau, have any intentions of following in your footsteps?
Katie : Well my sister Jenna has a boyfriend Matt, who she has been with for two years and they are perfect for each other so I think she'll marry him and they will grow old together. My other sister Jamie, is going to graduate from college and I think she's going to be a lawyer but she really likes acting. My brother, Beau, I think is a little too young to know what he's going to be doing but I'm sure whatever he does he'll be great at it.
Q : How do your parents truly feel about you heading for stardom at 15 years of age? Have you had much support from them or have they tried to steer you away from the music industry?
Katie : Well my mom, my dad and my step dad all wish I was 18 but my mom knows that I'm mature enough to handle everything that's going to be coming and she knows what's best for me. My mom and step dad support me no matter what I decided to do as long as they think that it is a rational thing and I stay grounded. As for my dad, he wishes I was older and he supports me as a child and loves me a lot.
Q : Do you see yourself being an actor as well as a singer? Do you have a preference or other ambitions to fulfil?
Katie : Yes I have taken many acting classes and that's what I was doing before I started to sing but I do hope that I am successful in both. They are two totally different things and I love doing them both. I performed a lot on stage in my community while growing up.
Q : Has recording always been something you wanted to do?
Katie : I have always wanted to be a singer but I never actually thought I would. It is so much fun and I love the audiences!
Q : Working in show business takes up a lot of time and energy. Will you find it difficult to finish your education with good results, whilst you are embarking on your music career?
Katie : No I don't think it will be difficult because I think education is really important and I plan on going to college, I just have to always remember that education comes first.
Q : We are eager to listen to your first single of 'I Think I Love You' and wish you much success. Are you in any way worried about your first single being an old hit of your dad's (David Cassidy)? Was it your idea to release this as a first?
Katie : No I'm not worried about it because I had so much fun recording it and it is a completely different version. You can't even tell that it's the same song. No it wasn't my idea; it was my producer's. It had already been redone by him when we met.
Q : Do you have enough material lined up for an album soon? How about original material?
Katie : Well I have about 6 or 7 songs that I am going to record, but I'm also writing my own music too.
Q : What sort of music do you listen to and enjoy? What kind of music would you prefer to perform?
Katie : I listen to all kinds of music. I like pop, country, punk rock, and R&B and sometimes I listen to oldies (they're fun to sing in the shower). Well the type of music I like to sing is hip pop.
Q : Do you intend to continue modeling whilst you build on your music career or have you decided that modeling should be put to one side for a while?
Katie : Yes I would love to continue modeling as well as singing. I think they are really wonderful experiences.
Q : You are a very beautiful girl - what is your beauty, health and fitness regime?
Katie : Nothing special. I take good care of my skin and never let my face into the sun when tanning. I hate blemishes so I clean my face well all the time. I eat a lot of food, mostly healthy but small meals often during the day. I do love some junk food, but not a ton of it! I never drink soda, always water!
Q : Who took the photographs of you which are shown on your website? You looked like you had a lot of fun posing for them.
Katie : Henry, my dad's photographer from when he was 19 (and still is) is the man who took the pictures. My mom and him are still very good friends so he was happy to do it. It was so fun shooting it… I was really hyper that day. He has taken many of me in the past too.
Q : Knowing of your dad's past and all he went through as a teen idol and the dark periods of his life that followed, does it not scare you that being so vulnerable and so young, many people will be around you trying to organise your career and your life, and you could fall prey to an existence not dissimilar to your dad's late teens/early twenties?
Katie : I have talked to my mom and dad a lot about this. My childhood was very different from my dad's. I was not allowed into the show business world and my mom protected me from that and from it becoming public that I was David's daughter. I have a really good foundation and a very loving and supportive family too. My mom is very careful with who I have working for me. She has always been very much a part of me and my sisters' lives and friends. Sherry, my mom and David both wish I was older but this opportunity came along and I begged to try it! My step-dad, Richard who has been with me since I was just 4 has always loved me and really was my parent.
Q : There will be constant comparisons that will inevitably be made between your career and your dad's. Are you prepared for this?
Katie : Yes I am very prepared for anything that may stand in my way or even help me in others. It may be difficult to deal with but not everything in life is easy, and if it were life would be boring.
Q : Do people often compare your looks to your dad? You have his eyes.
Katie : Yes I do have the Cassidy eyes. Its funny you say that because just the other day dad and I were staring in each others eyes, fascinated that I was looking into my eyes and he was looking into his… Oh and I also got his chicken legs, I make fun of him for that.
Q : What are your feelings about singing a song that your dad sang? Do you know why they did a remake of 'I Think I love You'?
Katie : The remake had already been done and I just was lucky enough to meet the producer when I did. It was fate I think! I love doing the song and it's very different than my dad's. It's fun and catchy and I dance with it too.
Q : Would you like to do a duet with your dad? Fans in the UK are hoping you will go to the UK with him in July and sing a duet of 'I Think I Love you'.
Katie : In the future I may sing with my dad. We are just different in the way we sing. I'd like to work with him, but for now, I am happy having my own career.
Q : Have you thought about and discussed with your dad how his own career could be affected by your sudden launch onto the music scene? Do you think one career could have an adverse effect on the other's career? Or do you think your popularity could boost your dad's and vice versa?
Katie : I don't know what will happen with our separate careers. I just hope people like my music and the way I present it. I have a lot of energy and am having so much fun! It is important to me to make this on my own merit. Not because of my dad.
Q : Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
Katie : Well 10 years from now I would like to be singing, writing my own music, acting and having a family. No matter what, I will go to college at some point. That is important to me.
Please visit Katie's Official Website and Katie's Authorized Fansite for more information and news.
This interview is done with the help of fans from the US, UK, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, namely Alice Huskisson, Charmaine Lipa, Sue and Jessica Dawson, Diane Harding, Nobuko Fukushima, Veronica Cronin and Sue McConnell. Many thanks to them and to Katie for answering the questions. We all wish Katie a long, successful singing career!!!