When I look out at the people and they look at me and they're smiling, then I know that I'm loved. That is the time when I have no worries, no problems.

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.

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.

It's not about battling the original artists when I record these songs, it's about paying tribute to them.

In some ways, it's my rage that keeps me going.

I'm not a braggart, but when I was a little girl people used to come from all over Hollywood to hear me sing.

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