Aretha Franklin

It's easy for a singer to sometimes pick up on another singer's sound, but that's just copying. ”

I've been around long enough for people to know who I am and what my contributions are. They know me as more than just an artist. I think they know me as a woman as well. ”

I remember singing around the house to records that were playing. All kinds of music. And the great James Cleveland was often in our house, and I grew up with his sound as well. ”

Be your own artist, and always be confident in what you're doing. If you're not going to be confident, you might as well not be doing it. ”

I always felt rock and roll was very, very wholesome music. ”

Men don't like eating out of cans. And I don't like eating out of cans too much, either. ”

I donate heavily to the church and various churches in the Detroit community and food banks. ”

Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well. ”

I think women and children and older people are the three least-respected groups in our society. ”

Parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home. ”