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

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.

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.

Love as is love is the oxygen of life.

Demoniac frenzy, moping melancholy.

Poetry has never let me down. Without poetry, I would have found life less comprehensible, less bearable and infinitely less enjoyable.

We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain, free within ourselves.

As for worrying about what other people might think - forget it. They aren't concerned about yours. They're too busy worrying about what you and other people think of theirs.

Once I discovered music, I knew what I wanted to do.

The best way to predict the future is to study the past, or prognosticate.

The experience of being in space didn't change my perspective of myself or of the planet or of life. I had no spiritual experience.

can only write about what bites you.

It's never as easy to keep your own spouse happy as it is to make someone else's spouse happy.