SPOKANE, Wash. — For the time being, LSU’s standout guard Flau’Jae Johnson is setting her musical pursuits aside, along with her podcasting ventures. She is currently directing all her energy towards aiding the Tigers in claiming yet another national championship in the NCAA Tournament.
“I’m not focused on my music, I’m not focused on my podcast, I’m not focused on any of that stuff. I’m focused on winning the national championship,” Johnson said. “Because if I won the national championship, then I can focus on everything I want to.”
Despite her determination, Johnson’s talents outside the basketball court are also shining throughout March Madness. She’s a part of a Powerade advertising campaign that prominently features her rapping skills.
Since stepping into the limelight in 2018 on “America’s Got Talent,” where she reached the quarterfinals, Johnson has flourished as a music star. She dropped her debut album, “Best of Both Worlds,” last year and even teamed up with rapper Lil Wayne for a collaboration. Johnson has often spoken about how her music career is a tribute to her late father, the rapper Camoflauge.
In addition to her musical talent, Johnson hosts a podcast, also titled “Best of Both Worlds.” In it, she interviews notable figures in the sports world, featuring notable guests like USC’s JuJu Watkins and UConn’s Paige Bueckers, while exploring various topics from basketball to personal life.
Recently, Johnson and the Tigers triumphed over N.C. State with an 80-73 victory, advancing to the Elite Eight for the third year in a row. They are geared up to face the top-seeded UCLA team on Sunday. In last year’s NCAA Tournament, the teams clashed and Bruins head coach Cori Close witnessed firsthand Johnson’s prowess as she scored a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double.
Close has not only praised Johnson’s skills on the court but also commended the positive influence her brand brings to the sport.
“Talk about someone who’s been great for the game. I just really admire how she’s juggled all the different things that she does in life, let alone on the court,” Close stated. “I’m a big pioneer — try to be, of growing the game, and I look to her. She’s doing a great job, and I just want to compliment her for that, our game is better off for it.”
Reflecting on her past experiences, including her appearance on “America’s Got Talent,” Johnson is unfazed by high-pressure scenarios. “I feel like (with) pressure, you either break pipes or make diamonds, and I like diamonds,” she noted prior to her appearance on a reunion version of the show in 2023.