Chaka Khan

“Getting a degree, being on Sesame Street... those were like real accomplishments to me.”

“Well. I'm probably not loving myself like I should, but I'm really trying.”

“To me, this degree was an acknowledgment of my work in music.”

“I remember seeing the movie 'To Sir With Love' when I was a little girl.”

“I think the whole reason for my life is in there somewhere.”

“If I love a song, I make it mine.”

“There are a lot of people I would have liked to have collaborated with, and would still like to.”

“But really, we also need to learn how to love one another as women. How to appreciate and respect each other.”

“In my thirties, I felt I had hold of one of the reins some of the time.”

“You know, it's just tough to get together and do work with somebody.”

“I'd been in a vicious cycle and circle of people and couldn't see my way out. So I picked myself up one day about 15 years ago and moved where I didn't know anyone.”

“My philosophy is familiarity breeds contempt.”

“Walking through this life really is walking through fire.”

“I'd like to work on putting art programs back in schools.”

“I like to work spontaneously.”

“One of the album's songs features Mary J. Blige, but I don't want to talk too much about it yet. I think you will hear the music that's been playing in my head when it comes out.”

“When I was in my twenties, it felt like I was riding wild horses, and I was hoping I didn't go over a cliff.”

“I love to sing. It's the easiest thing for me to do.”

“Being a singer is a way for me to get to a platform to do more.”

“Everyone in my family sang, and we would always sing these songs.”