Aretha Franklin quotes

My mentor was Clara Ward of the famous Ward gospel singers of Philadelphia. And my dad was my coach. He coached me. And just my natural love for music is what drove me.

Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It's transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It's uplifting, it's encouraging, it's strengthening.

There is no way in the world anyone else could do my wedding other than myself, along with whomever I select to do various things.

Sam Cooke had a huge influence on me. He left the gospel field at one point and went into the secular, and he had this huge hit, 'You Send Me.' Irma, my older sister, and I heard 'You Send Me' on the radio while we were driving through the South one night. We had to stop the car. We got out and danced around the car out on the highway.

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

Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift.

I've met my share of guys who have insulted and assaulted my intelligence with their stories and games. I say hello and goodbye!

For many years, I've wanted to do one, and I've always mentioned it to the chieftains, and they would say things like, 'Oh well. Christmas albums don't sell,' and things like that. But that's not the point. Christmas albums are important. The music is important. The season is important.

I don't feel one's personal medical condition is everybody's business. It just isn't something you advertise, and it's not open to discussion.

Women absolutely deserve respect.

I was in my dad's church, his Baptist church, and I think the first song I ever performed was 'Jesus Be a Fence Around Me.'

My mentor was Clara Ward of the famous Ward gospel singers of Philadelphia. And my dad was my coach. He coached me. And just my natural love for music is what drove me.

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

Everybody wants respect. In their own way, three-year-olds would like respect, and acknowledgment, in their terms.

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

I didn't really want to sing at first, but my dad insisted that I do.

In terms of helping people understand and know each other a little better, music is universal - universal and transporting.

My mentor was Clara Ward of the famous Ward gospel singers of Philadelphia. And my dad was my coach. He coached me. And just my natural love for music is what drove me.