Justin Bieber Sits Down With Ryan Seacrest on NBC Today, 9/13

Justin Bieber sits down with NBC News Special Correspondent Ryan Seacrest for an exclusive interview airing today, September 13 on TODAY and ROCK CENTER WITH Brian Williams. Bieber chats with Seacrest about the details of his new book, Justin Bieber: Just Getting Started, out today, September 13. He also talks about his desire to not be just “another teen heartthrob,” the challenges he faces in the music industry, and what he’s striving for next.

Bieber’s mother, Pattie Mallette, joins the interview and reveals the name she almost gave her son when he was born. She also shares what Bieber was like as a mischievous young boy, all part of her new soon to be released book, Nowhere But Up: The Story of Justin Bieber’s Mom. Mallette will appear on “Today” to discuss more about her book in a special multi-part interview airing Tuesday and Wednesday September 18 and 19.

Below are excerpts from the interview with Ryan Seacrest airing on “Today” and “Rock Center with Brian Williams” today, September 13. 

NOT JUST ANOTHER TEEN HEARTTHROB

Justin Bieber:

I feel like I just don't want to be another teen heartthrob, 'cause that's just-- I just think that that just annoys me. To think that that's what people will-- will think of me-- or like I just want to prove people wrong.

Ryan Seacrest:

Do you think you've made steps and taken steps to start doing that?

Justin Bieber:

Yeah. I think Believe is really-- my new album has really showcased what I'm capable of—especially becoming an 18-year-old and becoming an adult. And hearing older people say, “Wow, this new album's great. Like I didn't know that was Justin Bieber." Or, you know, "Wow, like I never used to listen to Justin Bieber's music, and now I like his music." Or-- "This, As Long As You Love Me, that's Justin Bieber singing?"

Like I like those reactions, because I feel like they're now-- they're-- judging me based on my music and not based on, you know, my-- a flick of my hair. You know?

####

"I LOVE BEING THE UNDERDOG"

Ryan Seacrest:

You-- you write in the book something interesting. You say that, "I love being the underdog."

Justin Bieber:

Uh-huh.

Ryan Seacrest:

You say, "It gives me and my fans something to do and to strive for next."

Justin Bieber:

Uh-huh.

Ryan Seacrest:

Do you still feel like you're the underdog?

Justin Bieber:

I mean, at this point, I feel like in some ways, I'm-- I am the underdog. Because it's like there are people that don't believe that, you know, I can make the transition from being a teen pop star to an adult.

Ryan Seacrest:

So, when you sit at home at night and think about your goals and the things you're striving for next, what's on that list?

Justin Bieber:

Well, Grammys, ‘cause I haven't won a Grammy. So that's something that I've always -- when I was little, like, "Oh, my God, like what if I won a Grammy? That would be crazy." So that's one of the things that I'm still striving for.

####

BIEBER'S MOM ALMOST NAMED HIS JESSE

Ryan Seacrest:

What did you think when she revealed to you that she was going to call you Jesse, and, at the last minute, changed your name to Justin?

Justin Bieber:

I was like-- I feel that I'm not a Jesse. So that would have been weird.

Ryan Seacrest:

But you couldn't have that conversation in that moment.

Justin Bieber:

Yeah. I'm not like, "Mom, don't name me Jesse, please."

PATTIE MALLETTE:

I called him Jesse the whole pregnancy. And then, once he was born, I was like, "No, he doesn't look like a Jesse. Justin."

####

BIEBER ADMITS HE WAS 'NOT EASY' AS A KID

Justin Bieber:

All the jobs that she took to provide for us. And just like how she had to give up her social life as a teenager to raise me. How she had to-- you know, there were so many struggles that she had to go through to be able to raise me, as an 18-year-old girl. You know, so I couldn't imagine raising a child now. So I give my mom-- you know, kudos to you, Mom.

PATTIE MALLETTE:

Thanks.

Justin Bieber:

Because I was not easy.

PATTIE MALLETTE:

No, you were not easy.

Ryan Seacrest:

Oh, please, share something. You can't just say that.

Justin Bieber:

I was not easy. I got suspended from school like every year.

PATTIE MALLETTE:

Every year. He got kicked out of class.

Justin Bieber:

Yeah. The first day of school, in 1st grade, I started making armpit fart noises in class.

PATTIE MALLETTE:

The first day of school, kicked out of class.

Justin Bieber:

Yeah.

Ryan Seacrest:

And you got the call, saying, "It's day one, and he's on his way home."

PATTIE MALLETTE:

She moved him to a different teacher.

Justin Bieber:

She moved me to a different class, 'cause she said she couldn't handle me. In grade one.

PATTIE MALLETTE:

It's a true story.

Justin Bieber:

It's in grade one, out of a class. I mean, who kicks a grade-one--

PATTIE MALLETTE:

You were so adorable, too.

Photo by: Lisa Rose/NBC

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!