"I love to sing. It's the easiest thing for me to do."

"When I was in my twenties, it felt like I was riding wild horses, and I was hoping I didn't go over a cliff."

"Walking through this life really is walking through fire."

"But really, we also need to learn how to love one another as women. How to appreciate and respect each other."

"I mean, I'm not unhappy, but there's still so much I want to do."

"To me, this degree was an acknowledgment of my work in music."

"One of the album's songs features Mary J. Blige, but I don't want to talk too much about it yet. I think you will hear the music that's been playing in my head when it comes out."

"I remember seeing the movie 'To Sir With Love' when I was a little girl."

"Well. I'm probably not loving myself like I should, but I'm really trying."

"I'd like to work on putting art programs back in schools."

"Being a singer is a way for me to get to a platform to do more."

"My philosophy is familiarity breeds contempt."

"I'd been in a vicious cycle and circle of people and couldn't see my way out. So I picked myself up one day about 15 years ago and moved where I didn't know anyone."

"Getting a degree, being on Sesame Street... those were like real accomplishments to me."

"I think the whole reason for my life is in there somewhere."

"Everyone in my family sang, and we would always sing these songs."

"In my thirties, I felt I had hold of one of the reins some of the time."

"You know, it's just tough to get together and do work with somebody."

"If I love a song, I make it mine."

"I like to work spontaneously."

"There are a lot of people I would have liked to have collaborated with, and would still like to."