Everywhere I go, the kids call me 'the book lady.' The older I get, the more appreciative I seem to be of the 'book lady' title. It makes me feel more like a legitimate person, not just a singer or an entertainer. But it makes me feel like I've done something good with my life and with my success.

In fact, I bought our first family television with my own money, putting it on credit and then paying it off every week.

I look at myself like a show dog. I've got to keep her clipped and trimmed and in good shape.

I think so many people live their whole life in fear and doubt and shame.

We're not all perfect. People always say to me: "Oh you seem happy all the time." But I'm not happy all the time. I'm a human being. I'm very sensitive. I hurt like anybody else. But I do try my best to have a good attitude and I set about tryin' to take care of myself knowing I'm not going to be exactly right, so I just try to see what I can do to improve every single day.

I never want anything more than what's fair. The problem is, I never want anything less either. In the old-boy school of business, if a woman walks away from the table with what's rightfully hers, the man feels screwed.

People are always asking me in interviews, 'What do you think of foreign affairs?' I just say, 'I've had a few.'