It really is an honor if I can be inspirational to a younger singer or person. It means I've done my job.

Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I'm using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use. I'm happy with that.

What they said to me was that they were doing it in honor of the Katrina evacuees. The music has been designed to reflect the musical influences of New Orleans. I like what they did. I like very much what they did.

You cannot define a person on just one thing. You can't just forget all these wonderful and good things that a person has done because one thing didn't come off the way you thought it should come off.

I've done the Kennedy Center many times. I've sang for Marian Anderson. I've sang for Marion Williams. I've sang for Lionel Hampton.

People really don't have to give you anything, so appreciate what people give you.