I grew up upper-class. Private school. My dad had a Jaguar. We’re African-American, and we work together as a family, so people assume we’re like the Jacksons. But I didn’t have parents using me to get out of a bad situation.
I felt like it was time to set up my future, so I set a goal. My goal was independence.
I feel more beautiful than I’ve ever felt because I’ve given birth. I have never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this earth. The best thing about having a daughter is having a true legacy. The word love means something completely different now.
Everyday we see your heart and character, inspiring all of us to give more of ourselves.’You are the leader to take us from where we are to where we need to be.
I always treat myself to one meal on Sundays when I can have whatever I want. Usually it’s pizza, which is my favorite indulgence.
I think it’s healthy for a person to be nervous. It means you care – that you work hard and want to give a great performance. You just have to channel that nervous energy into the show.
I used to want you so bad, I’m so through with that because honestly you turned out to be the best thing I never had!
I’m a workaholic and I don’t believe in ‘no.’ If I’m not sleeping, nobody’s sleeping.
I know you want me back. It’s time to face the facts. That I’m the one that’s got away. Lord knows that it would take another place, another time, another world, another life. Thank God I found the good in goodbye.
I grew up in a very nice house in Houston, went to private school all my life and I’ve never even been to the ’hood. Not that there’s anything wrong with the ’hood.
I’ve had small depressions, days when I’ve woken up and felt sad, especially when I’m so far away from home. I’ve got my religion and that is my therapy, although I think it would be good for me to have someone I can talk to. But I have friends. I haven’t got a therapist but maybe I should.
My mother always taught me to be strong and to never be a victim. Never make excuses. Never expect anyone else to provide for me things I know I can provide for myself.
Do what you were born to do. You just have to trust yourself.
It was great for that to be my first movie with such a wonderful cast, and such a huge movie. And now I get to do The Fighting Temptations, which is coming out soon-it wasn’t much of a character, it was more of a real person, so I got to show more of my acting range.
I’m a good person and I don’t think I’ll be left on my own. I don’t know when I’ll meet a man – I think I’m rushing it. But I am tired of working and not having someone.
There are a lot of things I never did, because I believe in watching those true Hollywood stories and I see how easy it is to lose track of your life.
I wanted to be famous for my music and my talent, and I always wished I could cut it out when I left the stage.
I’ve worked hard and I deserve everything I have. I never thought I’d have so much money. I just wanted to be financially stable and it embarrasses me and I don’t feel comfortable talking or thinking about it. I don’t know exactly how much I have but I don’t buy much.
Playing Etta James in the movie ‘Cadillac Records’ really changed me. It was a darker character, and I realized that if anything is too comfortable, I want to run from it. It’s no fun being safe.
Any other woman who has to go to work and pick up the kids and make dinner – that’s way harder than what I have to do.