You can look at my palm and see the storm coming. Read the book of my life and see I've overcome it.

As a child I always wanted to be a singer. The music my mother played in the house moved me - Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Mahalia Jackson. It was truly spiritual. It made you understand what God was. We are all spirits. We get depressed. But music makes you want to live. I know my music has saved my life.

There's not enough time to be disrespecting... Life is too short.

In the inner city, there's a mentality that the government owes you something. My breakthrough came when I stopped feeling sorry for myself and took responsibility for every part of my life. No more pity parties. I've gotta love me more than anybody else loves me.

I don't have any health problems, but to keep your health improves your quality of life.

I've been a tomboy my whole life. But then you get older, you get married, you soften up.