MJ2 Filmed by CNN for a segment of Breakthrough Women that will exclusively air on HLN. 

On Wednesday, September 7, 2011, CNN/HLN and ‘MORNING EXPRESS’ with Robin Meade, sent a producer and cameraman to our home in Las Vegas, NV, to film and interview MJ2 for CNN’s special segment, “Breakthrough Women”…WHAT AN HONOR!

It all started a few weeks ago, when we received a surprise phone call from CNN explaining that they were researching MJ2, regarding our music and years of volunteer work to raise diabetes awareness and funds for medical research. CNN explained that they were interested in us for a special segment entitled, ‘Breakthrough Women,’ hosted by Robin Meade of HLN’s Morning Express. About a week after that conversation we received another call telling us that the four members of MJ2 had been selected as ‘Breakthrough Women!’

CNN focused on the Diabetic Angels, our global online community founded by the four members of MJ2, truly a wonderful resource for both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetics. CNN was equally interested in our music and our new album, ‘You Can’t Say Love Enough.’ With the help of Dennis Money, our producer and president of the record label ‘Sweetsong Nashville,’ we arranged to have the net proceeds, from the sale of the ‘Celebrity’ Single, which is the title track from the album, donated from the Diabetic Angels, MJ2 and Sweetsong Nashville, to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. 

This is pretty much the ‘back story,’ as to why CNN was at our home in Las Vegas and since many of our fans have asked us what was going on, we decided to write about this amazing experience! So…here is the pictorial Low-Down’ - an account of our incredible day, beginning with the four of us just prior to the interview!

Our morning began much earlier then normal, 6:00 AM…yikes! We got a quick bite to eat and one by one rushed to hair and make-up, praying that Araceli, our make-up artist would work wonders. We needed her to conceal those dark circles one gets, when they’ve only had four hours of sleep, because they were so excited they were up half the night! Somehow everyone finished on time and we anxiously waited to greet the CNN producer and cameraman.

As usual, meeting the four of us (two sets of red-headed twins), can be overwhelming, especially when all the members of MJ2 are named Mollie or Jackie and this morning’s meet and greet with Linda, the CNN producer, and Beau, the cameraman, was no exception. The bewildered look on their faces said it all! Luckily, both Linda and Beau had a good sense of humor and we successfully moved past the, “Who is who” routine that twins are so accustomed to. Linda began preparing for the interview and Beau secured our microphones.

Over the years we’ve been interviewed many times, but somehow it never gets old. As a matter of fact, we still have the jitters prior to an interview, especially a network interview and the trick is to remain focused and maintain control…NOT! :]

Even though being interviewed can be unnerving, especially when we don’t know where or when we might be thrown a curve ball, we try to maintain a sense of humor and enjoy the moment… Mollie J’s motto is smile, smile, and then smile some more! :]

Oh My Gosh…what a thrill! We were so fortunate to have not one but two exciting experiences on the same day! First CNN interviews us and spends the day following us around, then we spent a good part of the afternoon at the state of the art STUDIO at the PALMS, in the Palms Casino Resort, recording the vocal tracks for our next single, “If We Were Big and Rich”…THANKS ZOE! No wonder all the stars record there, this studio is awesome, truly world class!

It’s rare that the four members of MJ2 aren’t interviewed at the same time, but CNN decided to split up the ‘sets’ of twins, interviewing one person from each set, for the morning interview and the other twin from each set for the late afternoon interview. The funny thing is the audience frequently finds it more confusing when the sets of twins are split up, than when the four of us are interviewed together. In the end, there’s no way MJ2 isn’t going to be confusing to someone and in this case, the audience probably thinks the same two people did both interviews, but changed clothes! :-) haha!

One of the primary reasons CNN selected us as, “Breakthrough Women,” is because the members of MJ2 founded the Diabetic Angels, (@diabeticangels) a global online community intended to be a user-friendly resource, for both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. In this picture CNN is filming MJ2 in a meeting about the Diabetic Angels, with Mollie J. and Jackie J. on the computers.

The Diabetic Angels focus on empowering diabetics and giving them, their families and friends important information, intended to help them manage their diabetes with confidence. The Diabetic Angels also teach members and visitors to their website how to be their own best advocate and how to raise diabetes awareness and funds for medical research. Additionally, the Diabetic Angels stress the significance of NOT allowing oneself to become a victim of the disease…diabetes is not who you are, it’s what you have!

A very special thank you to Metro Pizza, who was kind enough to accommodate the needs of MJ2 and CNN’s film crew.

Thank goodness for METRO PIZZA! (Thanks Sam and John!) After a long day of filming, everyone was starving and Metro Pizza made us the best pizza in town! If you look closely you’ll notice that’s where we are, @metropizza on E. Tropicana Ave. in Las Vegas, having been served by our favorite waiter/screenwriter Ryan…can you figure out which one of us is Ryan! (More on Metro Pizza coming soon!) :]

                       Mollie, Mollie J, Linda, Beau, Jackie J., and Jackie!

It’s a shame that all good things must come to an end, but we finally completed what turned out to be an exciting and moving day! Thank you CNN!!! We truly appreciate you shining a spotlight on the Diabetic Angels, our music and on our song, ‘You Can’t Say Love Enough,’ the celebrity single that is helping raise funds for diabetes research!

          Mollie, Mollie J., Jacqi Hammel, Jackie J., Elizabeth Hammel, and Jackie

A special thank you to Diabetic Angel and all around remarkable young woman, Jacqi Hammel and her mom Elizabeth Hammel, for participating in the CNN interview and explaining how the Diabetic Angels impact Jacqi’s life. Visit her page on the Diabetic Angels and read about the challenges Jacqi has faced and the wonderful accomplishments she’s achieved!

Last, but NEVER least…a few of the most important people in our lives!

  Mollie, Michael Berk, Mollie J., Dennis Money, Jackie J., Mark Bradley, and Jackie

There are no words to express our gratitude to Dennis Money, our dearest friend, producer/manager and the President of Sweetsong Nashville recording label. Dennis is the man who has always encouraged and believed in MJ2, even to the point that he flew to Las Vegas from Nashville to oversee and assist MJ2 throughout the interview.

We also are blessed to work with Michael Berk, who filmed CNN…filming MJ2! :] Michael, President of Programing, Director of the Players Network, has written and produced more than a dozen movies, several of which have won Emmy Awards and received Golden Globe nominations. Some of Michael’s work includes being the Executive Producer and Creator of the TV show Baywatch and the Screenwriter for the inspirational feature film and hit movie, Soul Surfer.

In addition to working with Michael, we are fortunate that Mark Bradley, Michael’s partner and CEO of the Player’s Network, also spent the day filming CNN…film MJ2. Both Michael and Mark interviewed members of MJ2 about the experience of being selected as, ‘Breakthrough Women.’ We are grateful to be associated with such creative and wonderful people. 

We hope all of you enjoyed going behind-the-scenes with MJ2, as they were interviewed by CNN. Please check MJ2’s website and twitter (@mj2twins) for updates, to find out when ‘Breakthrough Women’ will air on Morning Express with Robin Meade.