When I'm singing the blues, I'm singing life.

You can't fake this music. You might be a great singer or a great musician but, in the need, that's got nothing to do with it. It's how you connect to the songs and to the history behind them.

I was originally like a punker, know what I mean, like the punks are today, I'd spit in a minute.

All the things I used to like - cookies, ice cream, gumbo - I don't like anymore.

When I'm performing for the people, I am me, then. I am that little girl who, when she was five years old, used to sing at church. Or I'm that 15-year-old young lady who wanted to be grown and wanted to sing and couldn't wait to be smokin' a cigarette, you know?

My mother always wanted me to be glamorous. When I thought about that, it really fired me up, and once I lost all those pounds, I started to feel really good about myself.

The only time that I am really truly happy—when I feel at my best—is when I'm on the stage.