When you pay your money to see me, I want you to have the best concert you can have from me.
I know how hard it is to send two kids to college when you ain't got nothing. I know people may not think of me in that way, but this business gives you ups and downs.
Believe me when I say this: you can't please everyone in concert, even though I still want to. Someone always wants you to sing a song that isn't necessarily on your set list.
Would you believe that Sammy Davis, Jr. taught me how to sing a ballad? 'You can be in an arena,' he said, 'and you should be able to hold their attention.'
I'm comfortable singing jazz. The only thing I was concerned about is that everybody, even in jazz, has their own style. To me, the queen of doodling was Ella Fitzgerald, and scatting is something I never thought I could do.
My mom and dad sang in the church choir. They also had a local group. They loved music, especially my dad.
I do know that on my mom's side, my uncle sang and had a gospel group. He also had a radio show he would do on Sundays with his quartet.
I don't live in L.A. I live in Las Vegas.
I have a wonderful family!
I have wonderful children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
The Lord tells us where we are going and tells us when we are coming.
I love giving. I love sharing.
I like collaborations, and I like working with people. I do.
I got into gambling when I was playing a casino. I was a hermit in those days. I would go onstage, go to my room, or if we had to travel, I'd get in a car or a plane, whatever. But I didn't do anything. One day, this friend of mine said, 'Do you want to play some blackjack?'
I have a thing about working with young people. I adore them.
With 'American Idol,' they're giving you a pass to get launched on, and it's up to you what you do with it.
We should definitely be more careful about the things that we chose to do with our lives.
I've spent all of my life trying to get people to feel a passion for what I do.
I know those challenges that come up from time to time in life are our little learning tools, our little steppingstones. If we didn't have those things in our life, how would we learn anything? We would just be walking around like nothing. We need those obstacles in our life because I know one thing - I'm a much better person for them.
