Nobody was listening when I learned how to play music. But there's something about being on stage, talking to the audience, looking at them and smiling, that's always been difficult for me. I'm a lot more comfortable now, but there are still moments of awkwardness.

Anyone can look pretty with hair and make-up.

God bless Ray Charles. It was such an honor to meet him and sing with him and actually just to watch him sing from just two feet away.

I don't go about playing music differently. It changes my sleeping schedule and my drinking habits, that's what I like to say.

A song will keep going round in my brain and keep me awake.

I remember early on, for instance, having to play wedding gigs, that I hated playing the music. Now I don't have to play music that I don't like. I only get to do what I enjoy, so that's pretty lucky.

You would never catch me in a miniskirt.