I know! I know! But it's really coming out. They say they want it out for September 20th, I say the 27th.

A friend had a couple of pairs made up for me, ... I think the album is coming out.

I can't say that I'm always writing in my head but I do spend a lot of time in my head writing or coming up with ideas. And what I do usually is write the music and melody and then, you know, maybe the basic idea. But when I feel that I don't have a song or just say, God, please give me another song. And I just am quiet and it happens.

They're coming for September 11.

Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.

[With all the no-shows, it was up to an old vet to keep up the festivities. Aretha Franklin , on hand to collect the Lena Horne Award for outstanding career achievements, brought down the house with crowd-pleasing performances of] Until You Come Back to Me ... Respect.