I would stay in my room for days, for days at times, just trying to get it together, to know what my next phase was going to be.

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

I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow; if I fail, or if I succeed at least I did as I believe.

I like being a woman, even in a man's world. After all, men can't wear dresses, but we can wear the pants.

I'm the kind of person, if, if I have a day that is nerve-wracking, or my week has been bad or something's going down, I won't eat. Some people eat, I don't eat. And it shows in my physical frame.

When I heard Aretha, I could feel her emotional delivery so clearly. It came from down deep within. That's what I wanted to do.