I'm not starry eyed, and I'm not money crazy.

I’ve learned to live with rage. In some ways, it’s my rage that keeps me going. Without it, I would have been whipped long ago. With it, I got a lot more songs to sing.

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

The music was thunder and joy. Lightning bolts of happiness and praise, foot-stomping, dance-shouting, good-feeling singing from the soul.

I like to shop, but I don't like to go out to dances.

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.

A few years ago, I thought, I'll never make it. I started to go to the doctor to help me lose weight.