You can fool people. You can fool anybody anytime of the day, but you can't fool yourself. At night, when you go home, you've got to be straight up with you.
I've turned down a lot of arena dates because I've done the big-arena thing. Now, I want to do something where people can feel me and I can feel them.
I'm not crazy about arenas just because I can sell them out. It doesn't do anything for my ego at all. I want to play places where people don't have to sit in the nosebleed seats and wonder what the hell is going on.
When I heard Aretha, I could feel her emotional delivery so clearly. It came from down deep within. That's what I wanted to do.
Being around people like Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick and Roberta Flack, all these greats, I was taught to listen and observe.
I finally faced the fact that it isn't a crime not having friends. Being alone means you have fewer problems.
I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy.
I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow; if I fail, or if I succeed at least I did as I believe.
I like being a woman, even in a man's world. After all, men can't wear dresses, but we can wear the pants.
I wanted to be a teacher. I love children, so I wanted to deal with children. Then I wanted to be a veterinarian. But by the age of ten or eleven, when I opened my mouth and said, 'Oh, God, what's this?' I kind of knew teaching and being a veterinarian were gonna have to wait.
I'm just fiercely protective. It's like, that's my lair and nobody messes with my lair.
I'm the kind of person, if, if I have a day that is nerve-wracking, or my week has been bad or something's going down, I won't eat. Some people eat, I don't eat. And it shows in my physical frame.
God gave me a voice to sing with, and when you have that, what other gimmick is there?
In grammar school some of the girls had problems with me. My face was too light. My hair was too long. It was the black-consciousness period, and I felt really bad.
From the beginning, the camera and I were great friends. It loves me, and I love it.
When I decided to be a singer, my mother warned me I'd be alone a lot. Basically we all are. Loneliness comes with life.
Loneliness comes with life.
I'm older, I'm matured... I'm looking forward to the years to come. Good years.
I have a mother that's very strong and family that surround me and constantly tell me they love me.
I have priorities. Maintaining my daughter is my first.
