I've leaned on God for so long. "Hey, God, you just gave me this gift, and I'm just going to go out there and sing." But I'm realizing how much larger and how expansive my gift becomes when I actually pay attention to it and try to practice and try to perfect it.

It's not enough to be the best at what you do. You must be perceived as the only one who does what you do.

Some people are just born stars - you either have it or you haven't, and I was definitely born one.

But I did go to music really early on, even when I was 4 or 5, I was responding to music probably in ways other kids were not.

No matter how talented you are, not everyone is going to like you, but that's life. Stay strong.

As a performer I've played for 50,000 people and I've played for 50 people and I can tell you that it is harder to play for 50 people. 50,000 people have a singular persona, not so with 50. Each person has an individual, separate identity, a world unto themselves. They can perceive things more clearly. Your honesty and how it relates to the depth of your talent is tried.