Sara Bareilles took us backstage for the New Year’s Eve PBS special

Sara Bareilles He performed songs old and new at three of his career-long shows at The Kennedy Center in September, but stuck to a tried-and-true pre-show ritual.

“I always pour a little bourbon (before I go onstage),” Bareilles, 45, reveals exclusively in her Backstage Pass feature in the latest issue. Us Weeklyon newsstands now. “I don’t even drink anymore, I’ve been doing this since I was 20.”

In addition to his boozy tradition, Bareilles likes to “touch whoever comes up on stage” with him before the show. For shows at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, which were filmed for PBS. Next up at the Kennedy Center series and will premiere on December 31, including special guests Rufus Wainwright, Emily King and David Ryan Harris and the composer Nadia DiGiallonardo on the piano

When connecting with his fellow musicians, Bareilles also likes to set an intention for the performance.

“Spiritually, when I can be in a ‘It’s not about me’ state of mind I try to really tap into this idea of ​​’It’s not about me,'” says Bareilles. “Getting on stage is not about me, it’s about what we can offer to the audience. On my better nights, I can really go out of my way.’

Bareilles performed some of the most beloved tunes from her songbook for the PBS special. Sara Bareilles: New Year’s Eve with the National Symphony Orchestra and Friends. he tells We that the 2007 song “Gravity” was a “real highlight” of the show.

“So I just wanted to get away from the piano and sing with the backing of this beautiful orchestra, with an incredible arrangement. Rob Moose“, he remembers.

Bareilles is all about the music, so it’s no surprise that her dressing room essentials list is short and simple.

“Snacks, good light and a mirror. Basic stuff. I don’t have a bowl of green M&Ms,” jokes the singer-songwriter. “I don’t really like to waste things. Sometimes you get into the habit of having everything under the sun at your fingertips. I really just want a bottle of bourbon, some water, good light and my dog, (Louie).

Bareilles says her dog, which she took with her fiance Joe Tippett In 2022, it’s “really the most helpful” to keep you “now” and “grounded” before a show. With her by his side, he doesn’t need any good luck charms.

“I am not a superstitious person in that way. I mean, I definitely love talismans and I have a lot of meaningful tchotchkes in my life, but I really feel like the thing I carry with me is more of a mentality,” she explains. “I’m trying to cultivate a real mindset and that’s the thing that can move with me to different environments.”

One of the tunes Bareilles performed at The Kennedy Center shows is “Enough,” a song she wrote. musical arrangement of Me Wolitzerthe novel of interesting, which is currently in the workshop phase.

“I wrote ‘Enough’ before finishing the book,” he said We. “I was so moved by the character of Dennis and the themes of childhood and growing up and what is enough and when can we be satisfied with what we have?”

Bareilles added that he felt “so close” to the characters while reading interestingspecifically, the “ambition” that Dennis’s wife, Jules, had when she was younger was to “quit her hard.”

“It’s something I struggle with quite a bit in my life, too,” she shares.

Sara Bareilles: New Year’s Eve with the National Symphony Orchestra and Friends It will air on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS app on Tuesday, December 31st at 8pm ET.

To learn more about Bareilles, pick up the latest issue Us Weeklyon newsstands now.