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

If I wasn't my age, I would turn a flip. I would do some cartwheels. That's how I feel.

Music is such a joy, just an absolute joy.

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

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

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

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.