I spent the last week of Ryan's life in Indiana, Indianapolis, with Jeanne and Andrea, Jeanne, his mother, Andrea, his sister, and some other beautiful people who came. And it taught me a lesson.

We have a society where every hit maker and TV presenter is gay.

I really appreciate my performing so much better, as I get older. I don't take it for granted anymore. I really relish it and love it.

When I say I don't have to write pop songs anymore, there's no way I'm going to get on the radio at 60 years of age unless I'm doing a duet with [Lady] Gaga or I was on All of the Lights, which was a Kanye West record that managed to get on the radio.

I didn't sleep with anyone till I was 23.

I've watched other people singing, I've become a much better singer. I've become a singer that plays the piano instead of a piano player that sings.

I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems. On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving. I don't know what makes people so cruel. Try being a gay woman in the Middle East -- you're as good as dead.