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

I started writing letters home to my mother, saying that I wanted to come home, grandma won't let me sing.

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

I was not fortunate enough to run into Obama. We were at the same church per se, but I would never be there when he was there.

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

My uncle was 16, in junior high, and he heard me singing and snatched me off the stage. I thought he was happy and was going to pat me on the head and say I was good. But he took me home and told my grandmother this youngin' was at school singing the blues.

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