“People are like, “You’re a celebrity,’ and I’m like, ‘Celebrities don’t work, honey. I’m here to work,’” Miss Robbie Montgomery said of the fame that has come from being the star of a hit television show. “I get up out the bed coming to work – but it’s a good thing and it’s a good feeling.”
In the premiere episode airing this Saturday on OWN, fans will see her and her son Tim Norman preparing for the opening of The Upper Crust, the latest Sweetie Pie’s restaurant in what has become a successful franchise and must-see TV.
In real time Montgomery and Norman’s latest restaurant venture is in full swing. There would be 15 minutes of photo ops before they could even have a seat to chat about what fans will see in season three.
“It’s a blessing because they take the time to come here and take a picture,” Montgomery said after the paparazzi-style cell phone frenzy was done.
People in The Upper Crust had come all the way from Houston to celebrate a birthday. “Where’s Charles? Where’s Janae? Where’s the baby?” the said while they snapped photos.
“Patti LaBelle said, ‘Love the people while they love you because it doesn’t always have to be that way,’” Norman co-signed. “We are at that phase and I’m thankful for it.”
They are also thankful for plenty of other things that have come with the celebrity of being the breakout hit of Oprah’s network – namely a successful business and being an inspiration to others through their hard work.
“People say, ‘Miss Robbie, you’re an inspiration to me, but this thing materializing has been an inspiration to me too,” Montgomery said. “It’s almost like a dream. Who other than Oprah – next to Jesus – would you want to have supporting you? It can’t get no better!”
The family has survived on-air struggles since they made their OWN debut. But these days it’s mostly all good. Business is booming. The premature baby they saw in the first season clinging to life is now a gorgeous, chubby toddler.
“That’s the first thing people ask – they say, ‘How’s the baby?’” Montgomery said. “And they let us know that they prayed for the baby. The whole world prayed and, believe me, we felt it.”
Their successes also included a visit from Winfrey herself who sang praises of the fried chicken and pear cobbler while at the Mangrove location.
“It’s amazing because the entertainment industry was my dream and something that I had always been chasing,” Norman said. “And for it to come to a realization through the restaurant was something I never expected.”
What can fans and viewers expect from season three?
“Tim and I are still bickering and fighting,” Montgomery said. “We are still praying for Charles and Andre. Little TJ is growing up – he just had his first birthday two weeks ago. We still have a lot of other struggles that we are facing.”
“With success comes more problems, so you are going to see a lot of the growing pains we are having right now, and us trying to work through it and stay afloat mentally,” Norman said.
“But I want people to watch it and see that dreams can come true. The Upper Crust was my mother’s dream, and she made it happen.”
Miss Robbie says that she is venturing off into another business, but Norman won’t say much.
“Sometimes things are forecasted, but I’m not going to forecast,” Norman said. “You’re going to see some surprises.”
At the base, though, is the basics: the family.
“I’m happy that we are an example of a black family trying to do something positive and making it happen,” Norman said.
“As a family we argue and we fight, but at the end of the day we’re family and families need to stick together.”
‘Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s’ third season will premiere on Saturday, September 15 on OWN at 8 p.m. CST. Check local listings or visit www.oprah.com/own for details.
