Applause felt like approval, and it became a drug that soothed the pain, but only temporarily.
Chris Brown is brilliant. That cat is crazy brilliant, and I wish him the best.
Completeness? Happiness? These words don't come close to describing my emotions. There truly is nothing I can say to capture what motherhood means to me, particularly given my medical history.
Historically, in my generation, all of my heroes and heroines have had issues and problems. We all do.
I don't think being black has held me back at all. Being black makes you strong.
I need my career. That's what validates me.
I think there's no sacrifice too great for family, whether it's career, singing, whatever.
I used to sing at funeral homes for families that didn't have a vocalist. I didn't get paid. I needed to sing.
I would make far more money if every song were my own, but I don't write to fill up the album with my songs.
I would say that my peak was making my first million at the ripe age of 29, after the first album.
I'd love to be the political voice of my generation, but that's not my gift.
I'm picking and choosing in terms of the stress factor. If it's not fun, I'm not going to do it.
If I could be doing anything, I'd be laying on the floor in my birthday suit eating junk food and watching something dumb on TV.
Long tresses down to the floor can be beautiful, if you have that, but learn to love what you have.
Most artists are notoriously insecure, and I fall into that category.
Time has nothing to do with the gifts that the gods give you; it's what you do.
