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.

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.

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.

Victory and defeat are but ordinary events in a soldier's career, and why should you give up?

There's no money in poetry but then there's no poetry in money either.

Like two rivers flow to the sea, someday we'll reunite for all eternity.

God's path always delivers what He promises.

I watched the entire O.J. Simpson trial, and he was guilty.

I'm just writing about people. People are dark and complicated. I'm trying to tell the truth; that's all that I do.

And verily, a woman need know but one man well, in order to understand all men; whereas a man may know all women and understand not one of them.

I mean they're making remakes of my films and I'm not even dead yet! Why would you want to make a remake?

The world is like a grand staircase, some are going up and some are going down.

And as we stray further from love, we multiply the words. Had we remained together we could have become a silence.