I think there's sometimes too much attention to a few people who do hold extreme views. Most Americans go about their lives living in communities that are increasingly multiethnic, increasingly multi-religious. And they are welcoming of people who are not like themselves. Now, I don't have rose-colored glasses about America, because I grew up in the segregated South. But I watch it every day. I think that Americans are very tolerant people.

Fortunately, I started very young, so I read music very well. And my favorite composers to play are Brahms and Mozart.

As I was telling my husb — As I was telling President Bush.

It was really wonderful playing with Aretha [ Franklin]. I knew that she knew what she was doing, so all I had to do was sit in the background and vamp a little bit.

The political face of Europe is one that has said very clearly that it wants cooperation and friendship with the United States.

For 60 years, my country, the United States, pursued stability at the expense of democracy in this region, here in the Middle East, and we achieved neither.

I may not agree with everything, but our President, just like President [George W.] Bush did, is trying to do his best under difficult circumstances.