Music, in its higher state, for me, is worth living and dying for. It's worth traipsing around the globe, it's worth the accolades and the other side of the accolades...I always have sung to the angels and the higher parts of people's souls.

Where I come from, if you see your family and friends' civil rights being taken away, you speak up and do everything you can to keep that from happening!

I lose faith and I lose ground, but then I see you and remember unconditional love.

In the darkest place, shed the brightest light.

You can't make your kids what you want them to be. They are who they are and you have to help them to succeed in the world as best you can.

I knew Queen Elizabeth didn't do any laundry! I knew I wasn't going to be doing laundry. I was going to be singing.

Understand where it is you want to go. Then picture yourself there. If you can picture yourself there, then you can be there. Bottom line.