I have learned that it is no one else’s job to take care of me but me.

There's ups and downs in this love. Got a lot to learn in this love. Through the good and the bad, still got love.

I'm over being a pop star. I don't wanna be a hot girl. I wanna be iconic. And I feel like I've accomplished a lot. I feel like I'm highly respected, which is more important than any award or any amount of records. And I feel like there comes a point when being a pop star is not enough.

Take the time to define yourself and define your value. If you're having a hard time doing that, ask yourself: What is something I would say to someone I love?

The more successful I become, the more I need a man.

My biggest thing is to teach not to focus on the aesthetic. It's really about who you are, and the human being, that makes you beautiful.

Playing Etta James in the movie 'Cadillac Records' really changed me. It was a darker character, and I realized that if anything is too comfortable, I want to run from it. It's no fun being safe.