Leslie Jordan goes country with Eddie Vedder to raise money for Epidermolysis Bullosa research

After becoming an unlikely quarantine-era social media star in 2020, Leslie Jordan is now an unlikely country music star. 

The 65-year-old comedian exclusively chatted with DailyMailTV host Thomas Roberts about the surprising next chapter in his career – and his latest project to raise money for a very important cause.

Leslie has partnered with prolific musician and singer-songwriter Eddie Vedder to auction special collectibles to benefit Epidermolysis Bullosa research

Going Country! Leslie Jordan exclusively chatted with DailyMailtTV host Thomas Roberts about the surprising next chapter in his career – and his latest project to raise money for a very important cause

Beloved for his comedy skills in shows like Will & Grace and his latest, Call Me Kat, Jordan made the surprising pivot to country music. 

‘When I got to Hollywood, I never thought, oh, well, I want to pursue a career in music or anything,’ he explained.

Never the less, Leslie is set to release his debut album and he’s working with some of the biggest names in music – including his friend, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder.

Vedder and his wife, Jill, co-founded a nonprofit to fund research aimed at treating and, ultimately, curing Epidermolysis Bullosa or EB. 

'When I got to Hollywood, I never thought, oh, well, I want to pursue a career in music or anything,' Leslie said of his upcoming debut country album Company's Comin'

‘When I got to Hollywood, I never thought, oh, well, I want to pursue a career in music or anything,’ Leslie said of his upcoming debut country album Company’s Comin’

EB is a life-threatening genetic disorder impacting half a million people worldwide. The Vedder’s charity has funded dozens of projects that have helped clinical trials for EB increase by 15 times.

The ailment is ‘a group of rare diseases that cause fragile, blistering skin’ and has no cure, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Jordan described EB as ‘the worst disease that no one knows anything about.’

‘It’s where these kids are born – they’re almost like third degree burns – they’re in so much pain from the day they’re born and they have to wear bandages and they’re just the bravest kids,’ he continued. ‘So, it could be eradicated … it’s they just need money. And so I thought, well, I can help with that.’ 

Doing good: Leslie has partnered with prolific musician and singer-songwriter Eddie Vedder, who collaborates on the album to auction special collectibles to benefit Epidermolysis Bullosa research (Eddie Vedder in 2019)

 Doing good: Leslie has partnered with prolific musician and singer-songwriter Eddie Vedder, who collaborates on the album to auction special collectibles to benefit Epidermolysis Bullosa research (Eddie Vedder in 2019)

Leslie exclusively revealed to DailyMailTV that he and Eddie have teamed up to auction special collectibles to benefit EB research.

‘It’s going to involve albums, you know, signed album covers. I’ve got this new album called Company’s Coming,’ Leslie said, adding that he has ‘everybody from Dolly Parton. Eddie’s on the album singing with me.’

His music collabs on the upcoming album include a cover of the song Farther Along with Chris and Morgan Stapleton, and a signed mirror of the single cover is one of the items being auctioned. The auction is open now and proceeds will directly benefit The EB Research Partnership. 

When Thomas Roberts asked the television star how he got Chris and Morgan involved, Jordan said it was ‘very simple’ (and very modern), he slipped into their DMs. 

'It's going to involve albums, you know, signed album covers. I've got this new album called Company's Coming,' Leslie said, adding that he has 'everybody from Dolly Parton. Eddie's on the album singing with me.'

‘It’s going to involve albums, you know, signed album covers. I’ve got this new album called Company’s Coming,’ Leslie said, adding that he has ‘everybody from Dolly Parton. Eddie’s on the album singing with me.’

Big ticket items! One of the coveted pieces being auctioned off is a retro style blue silk jacket with Leslie's name embroidered on the front and the album name on the back

Big ticket items! One of the coveted pieces being auctioned off is a retro style blue silk jacket with Leslie's name embroidered on the front and the album name on the back

Big ticket items! One of the coveted pieces being auctioned off is a retro style blue silk jacket with Leslie’s name embroidered on the front and the album name on the back

Big names!u00A0His music collabs on the upcoming album include a cover of the song Farther Along with Chris and Morgan Stapleton, and a signed mirror of the single cover is one of the items being auctioned

Big names! His music collabs on the upcoming album include a cover of the song Farther Along with Chris and Morgan Stapleton, and a signed mirror of the single cover is one of the items being auctioned

‘I just sent a direct message like I did to everybody,’ he quipped. ‘So we gave Morgan a big solo and Chris is actually our backup singer.’ 

A direct message from Leslie Jordan is a very big deal in 2021. During quarantine, Jordan amassed millions of Instagram followers, seemingly overnight after he started recording short social videos riffing on anything and everything out of sheer boredom.

The response was a deluge of new followers who couldn’t get enough of his bite-sized one-man-show that included stories from his decades in show business.

‘I’ve always had a tiny bit of fame, like with Will & Grace and this and that. But this Instagram … I can’t even get down the street. You’d think I was Lady Gaga,’ Leslie laughed.

It's his time!u00A0During quarantine, Jordan amassed millions of Instagram followers, seemingly overnight after he started recording short social videos riffing on anything and everything out of sheer boredom

It’s his time! During quarantine, Jordan amassed millions of Instagram followers, seemingly overnight after he started recording short social videos riffing on anything and everything out of sheer boredom

‘Who would think at 65 years of age, people would want to hear anything I had to say?’ mused the self-deprecating star. 

Among Leslie’s millions of followers (5.6 million to be exact) are several celebrities like his pal Dylan McDermott and the one and only Justin Timberlake. 

After mastering social media influencing and country music in the last year alone, Thomas wanted to know what was ‘left on the Leslie Jordan bucket list?’

‘You know, there isn’t [anything] and that’s kind of a wonderful feeling,’ he responded. ‘I’ve done everything, you know, from Broadway to film to radio to TV. So anything that comes my way is just a little gravy.’ 

Leslie Jordan and Eddie Vedder collaborated together on Company’s Comin’ from Apple Music’s Platoon label, well known for letting their artists test their own creative boundaries. Company’s Comin’ will be available on April 2nd.

To bid on Leslie’s signed items to benefit The EB Research Partnership, click here

Star power:u00A0Leslie Jordan and Eddie Vedder collaborated together on Company's Comin' from Apple Music's Platoon label, well known for letting their artists test their own creative boundaries. Company's Comin' will be available on April 2nd (Pictured in 2019)

Star power: Leslie Jordan and Eddie Vedder collaborated together on Company’s Comin’ from Apple Music’s Platoon label, well known for letting their artists test their own creative boundaries. Company’s Comin’ will be available on April 2nd (Pictured in 2019)