In an abusive relationship - we'll talk about men and women - women are often restrained, by words or out of fear, from leaving. They will tolerate abuse up to and including being put to death.

I think that's the role of an artist, right? To touch someone and make us stretch out just a little bit more.

I just kind of tried to stay true to myself.

I just love music. I love all kinds of music, and I was exposed to it, me and my siblings, from the time we were in utero.

Once I started singing, I realized it was a language I'd forgotten I could speak.

To be up on stage and interacting with musicians, that was a huge epiphany for me.

Hey, maybe I can sing locally and earn a couple of bucks.

I've never been the type of singer that can sing in heels and the gown and all this stuff, because I can't get to where I want to go while I'm in that getup.

You have to be willing to look a certain way, and hold your body a certain way, until you get to where you want to go - I'm talking about musically, now.

There's a certain place you want to get to, and in order to do that, you have to be vulnerable.

I often compare singing to lovemaking because there's so many similarities.

All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason.

Words used to be all I had. Now even they have deserted me.

Sometimes, you have to shot block a friend's prayer because she's asking God to bless an obviously bad dating relationship.

We all love best not those who offend us least, nor those who have done most for us, but those who make it most easy for us to forgive them.

The advertisements in a newspaper are more full knowledge in respect to what is going on in a state or community than the editorial columns are.

If enough people openly engage in conduct once considered reprehensible, we rewrite the rule book and assume that God, as a good democrat, will go along.

Pause and remember - If you empty yourself of yesterday's sorrows, you will have much more room for today's joy.

If it's not bourbon or sweatpants, it's going in the garbage.... No, don't get creative. Now is not a creative time. Now is a bourbon and sweatpants time.

I can't get divorced because I'm a Catholic. Catholics don't get divorced. They stay together through anger and hatred and festering misery, just like God intended.

A truly great artist has many talents.