Chapter 37: talk show
The stage lights shone brightly as Ethan sat across from Jimmy Fallon, trying to keep his nerves in check. The audience was electric, cheering and clapping as Jimmy leaned into his desk, grinning.
"Alright, folks, our next guest is the rising star whose music is everywhere right now. His debut single made us cry, his upbeat tracks made us dance, and apparently, his sister made him go viral for all the wrong reasons. Please welcome Ethan Jones!"
Ethan laughed, waving at the crowd, his cheeks slightly pink. "Thanks for having me, Jimmy. And thanks for bringing up the sister thing so early!"
Jimmy smirked. "We'll get there, don't worry. But first—how are you holding up? You've got this huge album coming out, you're on every playlist, and now you're sitting here. Have you had a moment to breathe?"
Ethan shrugged playfully. "Barely. It's been a whirlwind. months ago, I was at my parents' home, eating moms cooking for dinner which i love by the way. Now I'm here, trying not to trip over my own shoes on live TV."
Jimmy chuckled. "Well, you're doing great so far. Now, your fans want to know more about the person behind the music. Tell us about your family. They've been a big part of your story, right?"
Ethan smiled softly. "Yeah, they mean everything to me. My dad, Adam, is... kind of the glue that keeps us all together. He's a calm, steady presence, and he always believes in me, even when I'm doubting myself."
Jimmy nodded. "That's awesome. And your mom?"
"Oh, Emily's the boss," Ethan said with a grin. "She's the one who'll tell me exactly what I need to hear, whether I like it or not. When I told her I was coming on this show, she said, 'Just don't embarrass yourself.'"
The audience laughed, and Jimmy raised a hand. "Classic mom advice. Gotta keep you humble!"
"Exactly," Ethan agreed. "But she's also the first person to stream every song I release. She even makes my dad listen to them on repeat in the car."
Jimmy chuckled. "And your sister—Precious, right? She's in high school?"
Ethan sighed dramatically. "Yeah, she's a senior, and she's way cooler than I'll ever be. She's got this whole TikTok thing going on, and she's really good at it. Sometimes too good."
Jimmy tilted his head. "What do you mean, too good?"
"She made a TikTok ranking all the ways I'm 'basic.' It got over a million views," Ethan said, shaking his head.
Jimmy burst out laughing. "That's brutal! What were her reasons?"
"She said I wear too much flannel, drink pumpkin spice lattes, and post too many 'deep' captions on Instagram. The worst part is, she's not wrong."
The audience roared, and Jimmy wiped his eyes. "I think we all need to see that video. But seriously, does she ever ask you for favors now that you're famous?"
"All the time," Ethan admitted. "She already called dibs on my car when I upgrade. I told her she could have it, but only if she makes a TikTok apologizing for that video." "She is my little sis I do have to take care of her"
Jimmy leaned back, laughing. "I like that you're keeping it petty. Now, let's talk about the album. What's the inspiration behind it?"
Ethan's expression softened. "It's about growth and change. The last couple of years have been intense—good moments, tough lessons, all of it. My family's been my anchor through everything."
Jimmy nodded thoughtfully. "That's beautiful. Can you give us a sneak peek? of the album I mean"
"Well, there's one song called mama said—it's about my mom and how her strength has always inspired me. And another one, love someone, is... this song resonates with themes of unconditional love that could easily be tied to familial relationships an homage to those who made me"
Jimmy laughed. "Thats beautiful I love it. Okay, before we wrap up—what's one thing your family would say about you that your fans don't know?"
Ethan groaned, already knowing. "They'd say I'm terrible at cleaning up. Like, if you walk into my room, you'll think a tornado hit it. My mom would probably say I need a chore chart."
The audience laughed as Jimmy grinned. "Well, there you have it. Musical genius, but don't trust him with house chores. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Ethan Jones!"
Ethan waved to the crowd, his heart full as the applause thundered around him. No matter how big his world got, his family—and their loving, hilarious chaos—would always be at the center of it.
P.S Check out my new book it's called The Next big thing Its good thanks for the continuous reading and also the voting ends today vote if you haven't cause i am entering the album arc soon