My purpose: to lift your spirit and to motivate you.

I never sang for a Grammy, for money, for fame. That's my whole purpose for singing: for people, for the fans.

I'm singing these songs to inspire you, to keep you going, to lift you up and give you a reason to get up in the morning

Well Lord, I'm still on the case. I'm still doing what Dr. King and Pops want me to do. I'm still on that freedom highway, and I'm going to walk on it until Dr. King's dream is realized.

I'm old enough to be Obama's grandmom. But I still like seeing good-looking things. Nothing wrong with that.

I feel so good singing songs that I sang with my father.

There is a great feeling in a small venue, with the closeness of the people and the intimacy.