Features

Photo Credit: Kim Kennedy

BY JONATHAN SOROFF

Cover girl and Newton native Lynn Hoffman received a degree in communications from the New England Institute of Art. She cohosted the Lander in the Morning show on Mix 98.5 before relocating to New York to be the first VJ for VH1 Classic, where she hosted its top-rated show, The All Request Hour, and then Hanging With. She has appeared on E! and TLC, has had her own morning show on New York’s 102.7 and does extensive voice-over and narration. Since 2007, she has hosted the Emmy-nominated Private Sessions on A&E, with guests like Ringo Starr, Gregg Allman, Mary J. Blige, Annie Lennox and Ricky Martin. She recently founded Lynn Hoffman Entertainment. She lives in New York City. 

Jonathan Soroff: Private Sessions sounds dirty.

Lynn Hoffman: I know. Sounds like something that would be under the adult section on late-night Cinemax. [Laughs.] Seriously? I wish it was more salacious and dirty.

Who’s your ultimate Private Session?
It always comes back to my hometown: Aerosmith.

Why haven’t they done it yet?
When I was on Lander in the Morning, I’d say it every day. I was like Rosie O’Donnell with Tom Cruise. But it still hasn’t happened.

Name an artist who intimidated you.
Debbie Harry. I can’t think of a bigger female icon. Someone came to tell me she wanted to know what I was wearing, so she’d know how to coordinate her outfit. I told them, and she said, “No, no. You can come show her what you’re wearing.” I was so nervous, I think I broke out in hives.

Anyone you’d never want to interview again?
Ricky Martin, because he’s just so goddamn handsome, and he’ll never be mine. [Laughs.] Seriously, I had a hard time containing myself and being professional around him.

When you have a Private Session with a boy band, it sounds even dirtier.
The Backstreet Boys taught me some of their signature moves. [Laughs.]

Your hair is reaching Rapunzel proportions. Ever tried lifting heavy objects with it?
It’s getting long, but no I haven’t. Occasionally, though, I’ve been known to whip people in the face with it.

What should the City of Newton name after you?
The parking lot in front of the Dunkin’ Donuts on Needham Street should be named Lynn Hoffman Square because it was one of my first jobs ever, and I’ve been addicted ever since.

Anyone come on set noticeably on drugs?
Meat Loaf, but it was because he couldn’t sleep so he’d taken an Ambien, and he said, “I don’t think it’s worn
off yet.”

Top three artists in heavy rotation on your iPod?
Michael Nappi, Katy Perry and Aerosmith.

How hard do the record labels or management companies try to get their acts on
your show?
Hard, and it’s a miracle that we’re able to book anyone on our show at any time. It has to be kismet. For the artist to be in town, the band to be in town, the affordability, how much they’re doing on the press tour while they’re in New York…

Biggest “get”?
Probably Bon Jovi. That’s the biggest thing that ever came through the halls at that studio. A&E has plenty of security, and they had all of them come up to the seventh floor, and still everyone who worked on all 14 floors of the building suddenly had a reason to be on our floor. Ringo Starr, too. Brooks and Dunn. Ricky Martin. Alan Jackson: 100,000,000-plus-albums-sold artists.

You’ve always made a living with your voice. What would you do if you suddenly
couldn’t speak?
Thank my lucky stars that I got insurance on my voice and start learning sign language.

Is Carson Daly ever going to go away?
I wish I’d known that his show The Voice was in production, because I would’ve loved to have had something to do with it. It’s a great concept. And he has amazing longevity in this business. Good for him.

How would you do on American Idol?
I’d say that within moments of me starting to sing, a large pack of dogs would show up in the theater and
start howling.

Ever booked a band for your show where you were like, “Ugh. I hate them.”
No, but we’ve booked bands that I wasn’t familiar with. For instance, I wasn’t a big country fan at all, and now
I am.

Six artists you’d want at a dinner party?
Steven Tyler, Lionel Richie, Mary J. Blige, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Madonna and Bono.

That’s seven but I’ll let it slide. How often have guests come on to you?
I think once. Gene Simmons decided he’d do the show, but he wasn’t going to perform, so we did a whole hour on him. And then he just didn’t leave, for like three hours. We ended up going out to dinner.

Did dinner end with a Kiss?
[Laughs.] No.

Justin Bieber or Zac Efron?
Those are my choices?!?

Of the artists you’ve interviewed, whose poster did you have on your wall as a teenager?
Oh, God. That has happened. Duran Duran.

Who did you want to be when you were a teenager?
A cross between Carol Burnett and Cher.

Favorite rapper?
Run DMC. I’m showing my age here, aren’t I?

Is your demographic as middle-aged as me?
No, I’d say it ranges from 25 to 60.

Will you take me out to dinner on A&E’s tab?
No, I’ll do it on Lynn Hoffman Entertainment’s tab.

Ever kiss Roger Daltrey when you made commercials with him?
No, but he did suggest doing a scene for when they cut back to us of us making out in the closet. The producers nixed that one.

He was the hottest thing alive in the ’70s.
He’s still got it. And to his credit, my boyfriend at the time did allow me to go out to dinner with him alone
one night…

So can he still play a mean pinball?
Not sure about that but the man sure knows his wine.

So you and I have 54 friends in common on Facebook. Can you name them all?
I bet I could.

Think I should do hair replacement?
You’ve always rocked it, so I never noticed.

Credits:

Photographed by Kim Kennedy

Photographers Assistants: Quentin DiDonna and Ryan Hickey

Wardrobe Styling by Julie Paquette • team the agency

Hair Stylist: Laura Dillon • team the agency

Makeup: Dianna Quagenti for MAKE UP FOR EVER

Top from The Tannery, designed by Helmet Lang, $255; Jacket from The Tannery, designed by Mackag, $673; Jeans from Crush, designed by Parker, $158; All jewelry from Quantum, Black Quartz Ring, designed by Jamie Joseph, $660.

Photographed at Exposure Place Studios @ EP Levine