Aretha Franklin Quotes

Clark Terry is an American Master. I love to listen to him, particularly 'Mumbles.' I was so delighted when we received degrees together, along with Edward Kennedy, at the New England Conservatory in 1997.

On the sly, scoping for love.

Trying to grow up is hurting. You make mistakes. You try to learn from them, and when you don't, it hurts even more.

Don't say Aretha is making a comeback, because I've never been away!

Yes, I've always been fashion conscious.

We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It's our basic human right.

The milk of kindness flows through my body, I shall follow Jesus to the Taco Bell and give thanks.

Gospel goes with me wherever I go. Gospel is a constant with me.

I'm a big woman. I need big hair.

Music changes, and I'm gonna change right along with it.

My faith always has been and always will be important to me.

Soul is a constant. It's cultural. It's always going to be there, in different flavors and degrees.

Better friends than lovers. Sugar can't you see? You need you and I really need me.

I've always felt that rock & roll was very, very wholesome.

Now, occasionally I will still have that quarter pounder because I love fast food, but you have to keep it to a minimum.

I love all music.

Columbia was a wonderful label for me. Wonderful. The records I made there garnered me an audience. I won a number of polls during the years that I was at Columbia. The Downbeat Jazz Poll. Leonard Feather, who was a huge critic back in the day, different polls that he had. The Playboy poll, a number of polls. So the music was great.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me.

I love 'Anne of Green Gables.' I have for years. That's one of my favourite things. She's such a can-do kind of girl; that's why I'm crazy about her.

My heart is still there in gospel music. It never left ... I'm gonna make a gospel record and tell Jesus I cannot bear these burdens alone.

If a song's about something I've experienced or that could've happened to me it's good. But if it's alien to me, I couldn't lend anything to it. Because that's what soul is all about.

I know people I feel are extremely talented, but I don't know that I've ever heard any geniuses.

I'm the lady next door when I'm not on stage.

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 saw the Supremes when they were still singing in little black skirts and white blouses.

You're a no good heartbreaker, you're a liar, and you're a cheat. I don't know why I let you do these things to me.

It's so glamorous, you have to see it. (describing the $92 million Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)

Judy Garland is a singer with a capital S. And talk about soul. This woman was soul personified. Judy Garland is a class by herself.

And I was booked once to go on 'Ed Sullivan' and I got bumped and ran out the back door crying.

I am doing what I love to do, and you cannot beat that, especially when the audience appreciates what you prepare for them. It's very, very gratifying.

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'm never tired of going to the studio. I enjoy recording and documenting everything and trying new things.

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

People really don't have to give you anything, so appreciate what people give you. And just don't let that go to your head, whatever it is they give you.

I go to the healthier foods that are less chemically treated. I am drinking lots of water to get rid of the toxins in my body. It's a natural flushing. Water flushes your system and is also very good for your skin.

R&B is not a fad; it's the truth.

Women have broken through the glass ceiling, and they're now more and more in the power seats.

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.