This is the first record contract I've had that was based strictly on me, on my live show. They just saw me as somebody who did a good show, and then they didn't inhibit me in choosing the songs.

I haven't been given the lack of arrogance, which would make me act like a 60-year-old. When they came to rescue me, I was intact.

I went to Joe Henry's house before we went to the studio and sat there on his floor and sang the songs to him and said, 'This is how I'm going to sing them,' and I think he was a little surprised.

I wasn't an oldie-but-goodie. I was an old failure. Now it feels like everything's about to start.

I thought these songs were constructed very well. All the lyrics were very strong. I won't sing things that I wouldn't say in conversation, or things that wouldn't be believable.

Having been able to learn my craft in these past 40 years, I've often said if my career had worked as I planned it, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to know as much about my voice and my craft as I do now. It enabled me to choose such a diverse group of songs and be able to sing them all. Heck, just being able to still get into a size 6, wear 4-inch heels, and do an hour-and-a-half show is great.