I'm an old-fashioned girl. And I love gospel. I like things that lift me up, inspire me.

In grammar school some of the girls had problems with me. My face was too light. My hair was too long. It was the black-consciousness period, and I felt really bad.

I was aware of people staring at me. No one moved. They seemed almost in trance. I just stared at the clock in the center of the church. When I finished, everyone clapped and started crying.

When you're feeling full of doubt and fear has got you in a bind, love will save the day.

You can fool people. You can fool anybody anytime of the day, but you can't fool yourself. At night, when you go home, you've got to be straight up with you.

When I decided to be a singer, my mother warned me I'd be alone a lot. Basically we all are. Loneliness comes with life.

I finally faced the fact that it isn't a crime not having friends. Being alone means you have fewer problems.