You have to create different things, either through lighting or changing the format of the songs and how you're going to sing them, and even sometimes props.

I decided to start my own label because so many people with talent come to me wanting to know how they can get in the music business.

...I would be a liar and my fans would hate me if I said to them, 'Oh, we're perfect and everything is great.' We have situations just like everyone else. We're not out in public trying to kill each other, but it's real. We love each other.

I started speaking about what I was dealing with through my music, and 4 million women responded and said, 'Us too, Mary.' And I didn't know that everyone was hurting like I was hurting. I had no idea.

From being a little girl in the projects, going through all of the mess that I was going through, to ending up at the Inauguration for the first African-American president, I'm speechless right now because I never thought I'd - I never ever - I couldn't even see that far. Even when I ended up in the music business I couldn't see that.

I don't listen to people's opinions. I have people around me who I can trust, but most of all I listen to myself.

When I was a child I didn't care about getting an education, and I didn't finish high school.