Dr. Ruth to Britney: It's OK to Be Sexy

By
Buck Wolf and Andrea Dresdale
January 6, 2006, 5:24 AM ET
3 min read

Feb. 21, 2002 -- Sex is always on Dr. Ruth Westheimer's mind, and she can't wait to meet up with Britney Spears at the Grammys next week to give her some advice.

The 73-year-old sex therapist says she wants to tell the 20-year-old pop sensation that it's OK to be sexy on stage — but don't forget who you are.

"I want to tell [her] that you can do these sexy kind of movements but at the same time in your interviews you have to say that you know that that's for the camera, that's for show business," says the good doctor. "But your core, your inner self, is not changing."

Dr. Ruth, best known as the grandmotherly radio talk show host who stresses the importance of contraception, is one of the more unlikely Grammy nominees. She's nominated in the category of Best Spoken Word Album for Children for her CD Timeless Tales and Music of Our Time.

'I Got Kissed by Elton John'

Dr. Ruth admits she's out of her element. One of the few nominees she's even heard of she refers to as "the U2."

"I know that the U2 love me," she said. "I know I got kissed by Elton John. I hear he's a fan of mine. … And all the others? There isn't one that I know."

Pop stars like Spears, who's going to the Grammys as a presenter, have an obligation to their young fans, Dr. Ruth says, and she's going to let them know.

"They have an obligation of knowing that millions are watching them, mimicking them, dreaming of them, wanting to be like them," she says. "So I want them to stop with this stupid piercing of navels and tongues and other — ick!"

Dr. Ruth's children's record faces some stiff competition at Wednesday's awards. The other nominees are Dr. Seuss — How The Grinch Stole Christmas CD Read-Along (Various Artists); Oscar Wilde: The Selfish Giant & The Nightingale and the Rose (Vanessa Redgrave and Stephen Fry); Mama Don't Allow (Tom Chapin); and A Series of Unfortunate Events — Book 1 The Bad Beginning (Tim Curry).

But the famed sex therapist isn't one of those folks who say "I'm grateful just to be nominated." She wants to win, and can already envision that Grammy perched on her piano, next to her Ace Award.

"I can taste that winning. But if I don't, I still have to smile," Dr. Ruth says. "I have to smile because those stupid cameras are going to be right in my face to see if I cry or not."