The part of my education that has had the deepest influence wasn't any particular essay or even a specific class, it was how I was able to apply everything I learned in the library to certain situations in my life. . . The library takes me away from my everyday life and allows me to see other places and learn to understand other people unlike myself.

Sometimes parents, when they have a lot of small children, it's hard because your time's got to get divvied up. There's no other way.

Once you know the Romance languages, singing in those languages is so sexy and sensual. I do have a global audience, so why not?

You don't have to give up who you are to be successful just because you're different.

The reason I’m not more political is because I have music. And from a young age, I needed it. After prison, my father came to America, joined the Army, fought in Vietnam - and was exposed to Agent Orange. He died a slow, horrible death. Music was my escape.

My mother had a beautiful, soothing voice that made me melt.

It's not so much for me where you come from, who you are, what race you are. We're just human beings that are still a work in progress and there's a lot that we've got to overcome, so that we can all be equal.