Glenn Douglas Packard is known to most of you as one of the stars of Brooke Knows Best on VH1 and as an accomplished dancer and EMMY nominated choreographer. It was my pleasure to sit down and interview Glenn in his penthouse. Yes, the same penthouse they film Brooke Knows Best from. You think the penthouse is beautiful on the show, well you all should see it in person. All I can say is….WOW!!
Glenn Douglas Packard is known to most of you as one of the stars of Brooke Knows Best on VH1 and as an accomplished dancer and EMMY nominated choreographer. It was my pleasure to sit down and interview Glenn in his penthouse. Yes, the same penthouse they film Brooke Knows Best from. You think the penthouse is beautiful on the show, well you all should see it in person. All I can say is….WOW!!
Glenn grew up in the small town of Clare, Michigan working on his family’s dairy farm. He planned to take over the family business until, at 19 years old, his entire world was turned upside down. Glenn was in a devastating tractor accident that broke his back and nearly cost him his right leg. He was hospitalized for a year; infection spread over his body and almost took his life. While lying in the hospital, Glenn promised himself that if God helped him recover, he would do the one thing he always dreamed of doing: he would enroll in dance school. Glenn took his first dance class at the age of 21.
Your vocal talent and obvious dance ability landed you a spot in Lou Pearlman’s boy band “twONEty” which toured Europe. Tell me more about that.
At first this was a subject I did not want to talk about, but the more experience I get the more confident I get and the more I want to talk about that experience. Lou takes advantage of young men who are vulnerable and are trying to make their dreams come true. He wines and dines them and collects young boys. Having said that, I do have to admit I was somewhat appreciative because I did get to travel all of Europe and see so much. But I do feel that Lou got what was coming to him when he was sentenced to jail.
You have worked with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry including Pink, Destiny’s Child, Missy Elliot, Nelly Furtado, Whitney Houston, Usher, Michael Jackson, and Liza Minelli to name a few. Which one was your favorite and why?
I have a few favorites; Pink because it was the start of her career and I saw someone ambitious, determined and talented and I knew she would be huge. I totally enjoyed working with 2 great people; Liza and Michael. Liza has remained childlike and it was so sweet to work with her, and Michael put my name on the map.
How exciting was it to be nominated for an Emmy? And how was the actual awards show?
I had no idea that there was even a category that I could be nominated in for the show I choreographed, so when I got the phone call about my nomination for best choreography for a TV special I was so happy; it was unbelievable. Being at the EMMYs was the first time in my life that I got butterflies.
I hear that Morocco’s King Mohammed VI requested a performance by you. How exciting was that and were you nervous? How did it go?
I danced for his father and he requested that I come and perform at the palace. I wasn’t nervous (as I said before the only time I have ever been nervous in my life was at the EMMYs), however, it was it was an adventure. Since I am about enjoying the moment that is an experience I will never forget. Every time I get a job I act like its my first gig. I just like to entertain everyone.
You have created 2 groups, The Knockouts and the Untouchables. Tell me more about them and that creative process.
The Knockouts are similar to the Pussycat Dolls I auditioned 200 girls and narrowed it down to 15, who I interchange for different events. The Untouchables is a singing/dancing kids group. I auditioned over 800 kids and narrowed it down to 35. For both groups I look after their careers. I am kind of like their agent/manager/coach all wrapped up in one person. I am currently working on creating a TV show for them. I like to put my hands in creating projects rather than auditioning for them.
How did you meet Brooke, and how quickly did you become friends?
I met her through Lou Pearlman. He was one of her clients and he introduced us when she was very young. I was her choreographer. It was a very teacher/student relationship. I became a mentor to her and just after she turned 18 we became friends.
What made you and Brooke decide to move to Miami?
Actually I was already in Miami. When I left Orlando (where most of the boy bands call their home) I was going to move to New York, and at the last minute decided I would rather call Miami home. Brooke wanted to move from Clearwater (where she lived with her famous family) and was looking into California, but decided to move to Miami, and called me and asked if I would move in with her. Afterwards she asked Ashley to move in also.
How hard was it for you to come out on Season 1 of Brooke Knows Best?
It was pretty hard, because I was worried about my family, because I come from a small town in Michigan. I was mostly concerned for my niece and nephews being picked on at school.
How did you meet your partner, Daniel Miagany, and is this a serious relationship?
Daniel moved to Miami around 10 months ago from LA and he wanted to get out of the LA scene and meet Mr. Right. I just got out of a bad relationship and wanted to go out and have fun since I was always in relationships. I was dating 6 guys when a friend introduced us, and we became quick friends. It wasn’t long afterwards that we decided we wanted to date and become exclusive. 8 months later we are fully committed to each other and share our life and dreams together.
Tell me a little bit about the upcoming season of Brooke Knows Best?
They show a lot more of me, my family in Michigan, my dating before I met Daniel and my relationship with Daniel. My high school asked me to come back and give a speech about my success and my sexuality and it is all filmed for the show (now keep in mind I was from a very small town). Basically you get to know Glenn a lot more.
What’s ahead for Glenn?
A lot of things are brewing which is very exciting. There is talk of me hosting a gay travel show, which I would love because I love traveling. I always felt my life was an adventure, so to be able to document that would be awesome. Maybe we can call it Glenn’s Gay Adventures. In addition, Candis Cayne (Dirty Sexy Money) is one of my good friends and we have been talking about doing a talk/variety show together.
Also, I have a clothing line premiering in May and I hope that one day I could marry Daniel and start a family together.
