I Thought Of Singing And Acting As

I'm Not A Career Kind Of Person. When I Saw New Music, New Trends Coming In, I Didn't See Any Place For Me. And I Didn't Think About It As A Career Loss, Because I Was Married - I Have A Great- Grandchild Now. The Low Points Were When I Lost People That I Really Cared About.

I Don't Have To Be An Imitation Of A White Woman That Hollywood Sort Of Hoped I'd Become. I'm Me, And I'm Like Nobody Else.

Music Became My Refuge And Then My Salvation.

As Much As I Try, When I Open My Mouth, Lena Comes Out, And I Get So Mad.

Malcolm X Made Me Very Strong At A Time I Needed To Understand What I Was Angry About. He Had Peace In His Heart. He Exerted A Big Influence On Me.