My parents both were doing the Civil Rights Movement, were very involved with the civil rights to Congress. And my friends' parents were as well.

When you’re young, the goal is to have a hit. You get a little older and the goal becomes to get to make another record.

I mean, I would love to have the career Joan Baez is having in Europe right now, but God knows I don't begrudge her that career.

That's an amazing moment, the first time you hear yourself on radio. It's still thrilling.

Going off the road just leaves me more time to be a writer.

Of course, I have a different vested interest in the gay community, because I am gay, and I would certainly enjoy the tax advantages that straight people have, and the inheritance advantages, and things like Social Security, but I've always been a civil rights advocate across the board. That's how I was raised.

I was one of I think three white girls in my school. So, I was very much an outsider. And plus I was Jewish and all of my friends were black and Baptist because they listen to the coolest music. We were all listening to Ray Charles and what was then called race music.