Jackie Chan learnt English through country music
The 71-year-old actor - who grew up in Hong Kong and whose native language is Cantonese - found it easier to follow the lyrics of the genre because the songs are typically fairly "slow"
7 June 2025
During an appearance on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' on Tuesday (03.06.25), he said: "I learn English in country songs because country songs [are] slow."
Jackie then went on to sing the chorus from 'Always on My Mind' by Willie Nelson, which sparked cheers from the audience and thrilled the host.
Kelly exclaimed: "I just got serenaded by Jackie Chan!
"That's how I'm going to take this day away."
In 1998's 'Rush Hour', Jackie was famously asked by co-star Chris Tucker: "Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?"
And the 'Karate Kid: Legends' star admitted he didn't have "a clue" what his castmate was saying throughout the film.
He said: "The whole movie, I don't know what Chris Tucker's saying. Not a clue."
Jackie admitted his dialogue was "different" in "every shot" because of his struggles to get to grips with what was being said.
He said: "My dialogue coach sits right behind the camera. Every scene, every shot, different dialogue.
"Every shot [was] different. Every time I just watched behind [the camera], the dialogue coach [went], 'Your turn. OK, let's go.'"
Kelly asked the 'Ride On' actor if there was an "improv moment" when he did not understand what a fellow 'Rush Hour' cast member or crew member was saying, and he admitted there were many.
Jackie said: "Yes!
"The worst thing [was when they said], 'Cut. Take a rest. Jackie... [then something quickly]'
"Then [I] turned around and said to my dialogue coach, 'What did he say?' [They] speak so fast!"
In his latest movie 'Karate Kid: Legends', Jackie returns as Mr. Han and mentors his young nephew Li (Ben Wang) in martial arts after he is subject to bullying at school in New York City, and the screen legend admitted he did not need any training because he has learnt fight choreography since the 1960s.
Jackie - who joined the 'Karate Kid' franchise in 2010 alongside Jaden Smith - said: "I don't need to anymore. I've been training every day for 64 years. I've been fighting, fighting, fighting."
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