Quotes from Aretha Franklin

I like writing and don't confine myself to just the words or just the music. But I don't particularly write songs with myself in mind.

Yes, I've always been fashion conscious.

I like 'Bootylicious,' 'Survivor' - my little granddaughter loves 'Survivor.'

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

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.

People are not as nice as they used to be. There used to be a time when we conversed. You don't get a lot of real responses now. They used to be more polite and well-mannered people, generally. It's minimal now.

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.

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.

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

I don't do crazy things - I just don't.

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

I wanted to design a line based on Hollywood's Golden Era. I talked with Stephen Burrows and with Willi Smith and with one or two other people, but it just seems like such a hard field to break into. I need someone like Calvin Klein's manager to get behind me!

If you disrespect everybody that you run into, how in the world do you think everybody's supposed to respect you?

...the people at large absolutely gave James Brown respect. He was an original like a Rembrandt or a Picasso

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

I think the hardest thing is losing weight. That's the hardest thing more than anything else.

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.

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.

President Bush bestowed the Congressional Medal on myself.

Women absolutely deserve respect.

I still have perfect diction!

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

I guess I could've been a prima ballerina. Or a nurse. Aretha Nightingale!

Well, Babyface brings his savoir faire to every project. He's a very easy producer to work with, very detailed in listening to everything.