I would say that my peak was making my first million at the ripe age of 29, after the first album.
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 think there’s no sacrifice too great for family, whether it’s career, singing, whatever.
If you have your own agenda and your own style and you don’t easily conform to what the masses are doing, you’re looked upon as being difficult. Whereas, I think of it as just being an individual.
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.
Time has nothing to do with the gifts that the gods give you; it’s what you do.
When you’re away for a long time, tastes change, fans move on. You hate to think about it, but it’s an ugly fact of life.
As soon as you get off stage, that’s the most dangerous time for a singer to kiss people because your vocal chords are receptive to any kind of germ.
Long tresses down to the floor can be beautiful, but learn to love what you have.
It’s impossible to write and produce a record when your parents are dying. I really tried, I really, really tried, but it just wouldn’t come.
I’m used to getting up at 7, getting breakfast, getting the kids off to school, and doing the mommy thing and the wife thing and the daughter thing.
Historically, in my generation, all of my heroes and heroines have had issues and problems. We all do.
My father worked on assembly lines in Detroit while I was growing up. Every day, I watched him do what he needed to do to support the family. But he told me, ‘Life is short. Do what you want to do.’
I need my career. That’s what validates me.
Typically, the theme of my albums, if there is a theme, is, ‘How does it feel?’ And that always leads to love songs. It just does.
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’d love to be the political voice of my generation, but that’s not my gift.
I’m in love, sweet love. Feel me calling out your name, I feel no shame.
I’m picking and choosing in terms of the stress factor. If it’s not fun, I’m not going to do it.
Chris Brown is brilliant. That cat is crazy brilliant, and I wish him the best.
Most artists are notoriously insecure, and I fall into that category.