Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.

My mother's wonderful. To me she's perfection.

My mother told me to keep on singing, and that kept me working through the cotton fields. She said God has his hand on you. You'll be singing for the world someday.

My father really was not the dominant person who raised the family, it was my mother who raised the family.

My mother had a rule, obviously, that I couldn't go across the street by myself, but I had to find a way of doing it.

We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it.