The two things you can't fake are good food and good music

This is an album of songs that I've always loved, tunes that I heard. For the first time in 53 years of recording, I really had control over an entire album, start to finish.

When I sing for myself, I probably sing for anyone who has any kind of hurt, any kind of bad feelings, good feelings, ups and downs, highs and lows, that kind of thing.

They said that Etta James is still vulgar. I said, Oh, how dare them say I'm still vulgar. I'm vulgar because I dance in the chair. What would they want me to do? Want me to just be still or something like that? I've got to do something.

Once you lose the weight, you're really anxious to eat healthy.

My mother always wanted me to be a jazz singer, but I always wanted to be raunchy.

People that can't stand to listen to the blues, they've got to be phonies.