As you're learning your lines and the character you're playing, you're going to make mistakes but I learned more about Shug Avery. I learned my lines, but everything had to be done quickly.

I just want to create amazing music that speaks and defines who I am. I want it to be based on my life and/or what I am going through at that specific time.

I am able to stay humble because I recognize that God has truly blessed me; I can't say that enough. I also understand without Him, all of this wouldn't be possible.

I love music; I was never the type of singer to say, "This is my specific genre, or I only sing R&B music." I feel like as a singer, you should be limitless and you shouldn't be stuck in a box.

My husband, children, and my family are my biggest supporters. I just pray to God to keep my family and I aligned at all times, and I just remember where it all got started before show business.

I just have to give credit when it's due because there are some things that took place in my life that I couldn't explain at all.

Some of the songs have a tinge more pop this time. I wanted to go into different worlds.

My husband is very supportive and is there for the kids, especially when I'm in projects such as The Color Purple.

I am working on a list for collaborations and it's just another way to share your artistic talent with other artist.

I had to get used to the theater atmosphere because I haven't had a role on Broadway since Aida. It was a different process from day one because I was learning my parts by myself.

I like to think about the quality, content, and concept for my music because I think these are the most important things and it just molds everything together.

Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.

No one's mouth is big enough to utter the whole thing.

I pop a beautiful sentence into my mouth and suck it like a fruit drop.

We never have 100 percent certainty. We never have it. If you wait until you have 100 percent certainty, something bad is going to happen on the battlefield.

The only thing championship about Wimbledon is its prestige.

The Spirit of God, I realized, is exhaustless Bliss; His body is countless tissues of light.

When I read the books, I imagined that the family of Ron Weasley was my family.

I grew up on a tiny little island.

I hate journalists. There is nothing in them but tittering jeering emptiness. They have all made what Dante calls the Great Refusal. The shallowest people on the ridge of the earth.