Now I can stand up on the stage again like I used to after five years of sitting down while I sang.

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.

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

My mother used to play nothing but Billie Holiday.

Now I can stand up on the stage again like I used to after five years of sitting down while I sang.

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.

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.