I am an outspoken person. I believe in what I say.

Country music is so related to gospel. It seems I could go down that road pretty easily.

I still have some very dear friends from school, and we get together whenever possible.

I look at the careers of people I'm standing on the shoulders of. People like Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., and Sarah Vaughan. These are icons I wanted to emulate, and I feel like they've been holding me up for quite a long time.

If you can think it, you can do it

I was born into a family of gospel singers. My early ambitions were many. I was going to be a ballerina. I almost had that one come true until I tore a tendon, so I transferred from my toes to my throat and that's where the talent settled.

People have been so supportive of this career for so long, and they are still enjoying the music that I bring to them.