Carole King is one of my dearest friends. Were like family.

Stay cool, stay humble, stay beautiful, and just do the work

Carole King is one of my dearest friends. We're like family.

I have always said every good thing is divinely sent from heaven.

My mother was a lupus patient. I was a child with the lupus gene.

I always say that I went to the College of Blossoms and the University of Ray Charles.

I felt like if I just gave my heart to what I was doing, I would automatically be a star.

My family is part Creole, and were Indian, and were also very, very black. My father was so black, he was blue.

My family is part Creole, and we're Indian, and we're also very, very black. My father was so black, he was blue.

You get royalties from certain songs that you do when you do background. It's according to the work that you put in.

Oh boy, I grew up hearing Sam Cooke, The Soul Stirrers, Mahalia Jackson, sitting on Mahalia Jackson's lap in my dad's church.

I was able to endure and play a special part in music history. And I always managed to keep working, even if I wasnt a big solo artist.

I was able to endure and play a special part in music history. And I always managed to keep working, even if I wasn't a big solo artist.

Back when I was working with the Stones and with Joe Cocker and Neil Young and Neil Diamond and all of those - 'the boys,' I call them - it was fun.

I got put out of my church choir because my pastor said, 'We can't have baby sister singing the blues and coming in here and singing on Sunday morning.'

I knew how to sing in choirs and sing in church, but I didn't know how to sing in a studio. That's what Darlene and the Blossoms taught me to do - to be a studio singer.

I don't necessarily "deal" with the criticism of others. I used to, but now I'm so confident in my walk with Christ that it simply no longer impacts me. I can't allow it to. I'm on a mission!

I was signed to A&M, I was signed to Lou Adler, who had a company within a company, which was A&M Records, and everything - James Taylor, Rita Coolidge, Carole King - I worked on all of that stuff.

I enjoy incorporating different elements of music that I enjoy listening into my songs. I want to give what feels good to me while never compromising my message, which is Jesus is my Lord and Savior.

To be a well-rounded individual and to know how to speak to both audiences of intellect and emotion means something to me. Not trying to be super woman, but I'd like to sit at both tables and on both platforms.

Any opportunity to share my experiences and help someone, I jump at the chance to do it. At this point in my life, I'm not nervous to share anything. Someone has to be real and completely transparent, why not me?

I started with Bobby Darin. He signed me to Capitol when I was 15. I was 14, getting ready to be 15. Then the next encounter I had was with I think Peggy Lee. I sang background with The Blossoms with Darlene Love.

My dad sung and played piano. But he was also a man of God. He was a minister. So when Sam Cooke would come in town, you know, with The Soul Stirrers at that time, he was singing gospel, they would end up at my dad's church, and it would always be a guest singer for Sunday morning.

I wish people knew how down to earth and cool I am. A lot of people think that I'm this high and mighty, bourgeoise girl born with a silver spoon in her mouth. I'm a super fun girl that is obsessed with my family and friends and just love to have fun and be a blessing to people! That's it! I'm very simple!

I was very proud to be Mrs. Curtis Amy. My thing in life when I married Curtis Amy was being Mrs. Curtis Amy. Career was fine, but I was enthralled with being Curtis' wife. That was very important to me back then, and that's always important to a young lady from New Orleans. That's our upbringing: to be a wonderful wife and mother first.

I remember working with Ray Charles when I was quite young, and I would wonder, 'Why would he sing 'Georgia On My Mind' and 'I Can't Stop Loving You' every night?' I said, 'Oh my God if I have to sing these songs, if I have to sing 'I Can't Stop Loving You' one more night, I'm going to fall out.' Of course, I was young and I didn't understand.

Each generation is tough! I'm still learning my generation. The desire to connect has to be present and evident. My generation thrives off of transparency and we can see through inauthenticity. On the contrary, we cling to what is real and genuine. While tradition and customs are important in their place, it's also important to be able to meet people where they are and speak their language a little bit. If this isn't done, you'll have a very difficult time connecting with young people.

Share This Page