It's been quite a roller coaster ride, but I've grown and learned a lot about myself. The greatest thing is being able to interact with fans and touch people's lives... for that I give thanks.

We take food for granted, but it isn't a luxury for many people.

I'm not really religious but very spiritual. I give money to this company that manufactures hearing aids on a regular basis. More people should really hear me sing. I have a gift from God.

I'm a bit of a night owl because that's when I feel the most creative and alive.

So, where's the Cannes Film Festival being held this year?

The roughest road often leads to the top.

I find fragrance to be such a mood enhancer and definitely a seduction tool.

I'm an ocean, because I'm really deep. If you search deep enough you can find rare exotic treasures.

You used to have to sing and convey emotion, and now, well, technically you can do anything with technology. It sucks for music today, but that's why that old music feels so good to me.

I'm not a 9-to-5 woman who has the same kind of lifestyle for years on end. I couldn't do it.

I never mind contorting myself for a good cause.

Red lips and fragrance always top off an outfit for me.

I have a lot of things to say and a lot of things to let out of me.

I have fun being sexy and tough at the same time.

I'm not just another bimbo.

What is it in us that makes us feel the need to keep pretending... we gotta let ourselves be.

In order to effect great change, we need to look at how we can help those in our own communities as well as globally.

I don't want to talk about genies in bottles anymore.

I still got the nasty in me.

I'm content with life, and I'm finally at that place where I feel relaxed and can really enjoy what's going on around me.

It's impossible to redefine yourself and your life overnight.

I'm experimental by nature... always exploring my creativity.

When I first met my husband, I needed that helping hand to take the reins and look after me.

The most successful people I've worked with, like the Rolling Stones - people of a different, kind of legendary caliber - have such great, warm energy.

I always wanted to have my own album released before I graduated from high school.

I have always been one to encourage perseverance.

When I'm traveling on tour, one of my favorite things to do is to throw a baseball cap on and go to a Target. The company has always been good to me. They've got such a great creative team.

I have spoken honestly about being born into a home where there was discord and chaos. I saw my mom have a rough time with my dad being very controlling, which is why I push back whenever I feel like someone is trying to box me in. It makes me run for the hills.

My mom brought me up to believe that my talent is a gift and a blessing.

I got along better with the guys than with the girls. Only two girls came up to talk to me. Later I found out they were telling their boyfriends, 'If you talk to her, I'll kill you.' It's always rough with that high school thing.

I turned to music originally because of my past and needing a release or an outlet to get out anger or frustration or hurt.

Thankfully, I have my mom and a small group of close friends who are there for me 24/7 and whom I can trust and depend on.

Blues and soul and jazz music has so much pain, so much beauty of raw emotion and passion.

Right now I'm pretty single... My career is my boyfriend.

It's an amazing thing to say, 'I'm beautiful,' without feeling like you're cocky.

I want to be an all round entertainer, I want to act, make films, make albums, do whatever I can.

I try to stay focused on my creativity.

I look back at the looks I've had over the years. I'm proud of myself that I had the courage to experiment with crazy hairstyles and some fashion things. Would I do it again? No. But that's part of the learning process and getting from point A to point B.

It's definitely a dream come true to be recognized and to be able to sign autographs. But, it's also a lot of hard work and can be draining. If you don't know already, you will quickly learn who your real friends are.

I just get really bored with sticking to the norm and having the proper conservative image. That's just so not me.

Pop is actually my least favorite kind of music, because it lacks real depth.

I want to look good when people see me.

Growing up with the childhood that I had, I learned to never let a man make me feel helpless, and it also embedded a deep need in me to always stick up for women.

It's a big responsibility to help someone express themselves as an artist.

I think everybody should have a great Wonderbra. There's so many ways to enhance them, everybody does it.

I always wanted to have my own album recorded and released before I graduated high school.

I'm a hard worker and I really give to my fans through my shows.

I have those days where I'm PMSing and bloated.

I was brought up in a household of chaos and I never felt stable at home.

My future daughter is not going to go through what I did.