My mother used to play nothing but Billie Holiday.

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.

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.

It feels so good to be happy.

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 told me, even if a song has been done a thousand times, you can still bring something of your own to it. I'd like to think I did that.

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