I've never felt like this in any other country. I feel at home, I feel wonderful

I've turned down a lot of arena dates because I've done the big-arena thing. Now, I want to do something where people can feel me and I can feel them.

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.

My mother taught me beauty really lives in places like a smile.

Being around people like Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick and Roberta Flack, all these greats, I was taught to listen and observe.

I have priorities. Maintaining my daughter is my first.

I wanted to be a teacher. I love children, so I wanted to deal with children. Then I wanted to be a veterinarian. But by the age of ten or eleven, when I opened my mouth and said, 'Oh, God, what's this?' I kind of knew teaching and being a veterinarian were gonna have to wait.