Elisabeth Withers on Juggling Broadway, R&B and Motherhood
NEW YORK (CBS) In a perfect world, all working moms would have a regular 9-to-5 shift.
But Tony-nominated actress and R&B singer Elisabeth Withers finds her hectic schedule isn't as accommodating -- and faces the harsh reality that having it all can take its toll.
While her four-year run as Shug Avery in Broadway's "The Color Purple" was amazing and her debut album "It Can Happen to Anyone" helped her climb the charts with her single "Be With You," Withers really wanted to be with her daughter, Chelsea, who is now 5 years old.
"I was doing eight shows in five days and every day that I had off, I was touring and doing interviews," Withers told CBS News.com.
When she returned home from her tour, Chelsea, whom Withers affectionately refers to as her "little Princess" ran to her nanny instead, calling the nanny "mommy." It was then, Withers said, she reassessed her priorities as a parent.
So the actress who sang alongside Patty LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion and Cher, decided to step away from the limelight and re-connect with her daughter as a hands-on mom.
Now three years later, Withers reemerges with a different approach. She recently released her sophomore album, "No Regrets," which she says best describes decisions she's made as well as her philosophy on life.
"All those experiences and background - that was my whole goal and objective in bringing it to this album, so people can hear 'No Regrets' and say, 'I can totally relate to that'...All those things that I went through as a student from the Midwest with big eyes and big dreams and having to struggle and struggle hard, but staying focused to accomplish my goals," she said.
Her single of the same title is enjoying success in the Billboard Top 20 charts (Urban A/C) , while its video is experiencing the same on Centric, Vh1 Soul and Music Choice.
It isn't easy to be a diva and a mom however, it requires balance.
"I prioritize a lot and it's important that I carve out a little bit of the day for me... it makes me more open and feel refreshed. It gives me clear eyes, so I can go back to her," she said of her daughter..
As a showbiz mom, Withers also stresses being smart with your finances and making long-term investments that will pay off in the end -- lessons she's learned from some of the most successful music gurus, including Ashford & Simpson and Quincy Jones.
"Songwriting is like a 401k Plan!" she joked.
Motherhood, like her career, has been a major life lesson for Withers.
When she sees her daughter running around the house, she said, it makes it all worthwhile.- "I knew that was my ultimate goal in life," she said.
Watch Withers perform as Shug Avery from "The Color Purple"on David Letterman: