Violence is almost an everyday occurrence in some Muslim lands: it should not be exacerbated by revenge attacks on more innocent families and communities.

I remember when I was a kid, when I just used to love listening to something again and again and over and over. You know, everybody else got sick of it, but I loved that discovery of music and what it did to my world, to my imagination. And so I started really considering, "Yeah, I've got to do more," for kids, particularly.

It's very difficult to ignore humanitarian disasters. The royalties from my albums continue to support my charity work.

From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen.

I always knew looking back on my tears would bring me laughter, but I never knew looking back on my laughter would make me cry.

It was important for me to duck out of the fast and furious life I'd been living as a pop star. I was in a different mood.

At Jerusalem, I went to the mosque and sat down. A man asked me what I wanted. I told him I was a Muslim. Now I realize I can get direct contact with God, unlike Christianity or any other religion.