01of 08Fred A. Sabine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty"I’m a people person. And I love performing. It’s the way it is and the way it’s going to be."— toAARP Magazine, 201102of 08Michael Ochs Archives/Getty"It’s the rough side of the mountain that’s the easiest to climb; the smooth side doesn’t have anything for you to hang on to."— toEbony, 196403of 08Paul Natkin/Getty"Falling out of love is like losing weight. It’s a lot easier putting it on than taking it off."— toThe Independent, 201104of 08Express Newspapers/Getty"Everybody wants respect. In their own way, 3-year-olds would like respect, and acknowledgment, in their terms."— toRolling Stone,201405of 08Taylor Hill/Getty"I’m here! I’m not going anywhere. This is what I do. I’m going to be around. I’ll be like Perry Coma [was], somewhere on a couch laying down with a microphone, still singing."— toPEOPLE, 201606of 08"That makes it all worthwhile, just to know I uplifted another person — I wouldn’t be doing anything else. In terms of helping people understand and know each other a little better, music is universal — universal and transporting."— toElle, 201607of 08Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock"I’m going to sail the Nile before it’s all over. I would like to see the pyramids and the Sphinx. I want to do Broadway — on my terms. And I have a standing invitation to have tea with the Queen of England."— to PEOPLE, 201108of 08Michael Ochs Archives/Getty"Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift."— toPEOPLE, 2016
01of 08Fred A. Sabine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty"I’m a people person. And I love performing. It’s the way it is and the way it’s going to be."— toAARP Magazine, 2011
01of 08
Fred A. Sabine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty
“I’m a people person. And I love performing. It’s the way it is and the way it’s going to be.”
— toAARP Magazine, 2011
02of 08Michael Ochs Archives/Getty"It’s the rough side of the mountain that’s the easiest to climb; the smooth side doesn’t have anything for you to hang on to."— toEbony, 1964
02of 08
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
“It’s the rough side of the mountain that’s the easiest to climb; the smooth side doesn’t have anything for you to hang on to.”
— toEbony, 1964
03of 08Paul Natkin/Getty"Falling out of love is like losing weight. It’s a lot easier putting it on than taking it off."— toThe Independent, 2011
03of 08
Paul Natkin/Getty
“Falling out of love is like losing weight. It’s a lot easier putting it on than taking it off.”
— toThe Independent, 2011
04of 08Express Newspapers/Getty"Everybody wants respect. In their own way, 3-year-olds would like respect, and acknowledgment, in their terms."— toRolling Stone,2014
04of 08
Express Newspapers/Getty
“Everybody wants respect. In their own way, 3-year-olds would like respect, and acknowledgment, in their terms.”
— toRolling Stone,2014
05of 08Taylor Hill/Getty"I’m here! I’m not going anywhere. This is what I do. I’m going to be around. I’ll be like Perry Coma [was], somewhere on a couch laying down with a microphone, still singing."— toPEOPLE, 2016
05of 08
Taylor Hill/Getty
“I’m here! I’m not going anywhere. This is what I do. I’m going to be around. I’ll be like Perry Coma [was], somewhere on a couch laying down with a microphone, still singing.”
— toPEOPLE, 2016
06of 08"That makes it all worthwhile, just to know I uplifted another person — I wouldn’t be doing anything else. In terms of helping people understand and know each other a little better, music is universal — universal and transporting."— toElle, 2016
06of 08
“That makes it all worthwhile, just to know I uplifted another person — I wouldn’t be doing anything else. In terms of helping people understand and know each other a little better, music is universal — universal and transporting.”
— toElle, 2016
07of 08Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock"I’m going to sail the Nile before it’s all over. I would like to see the pyramids and the Sphinx. I want to do Broadway — on my terms. And I have a standing invitation to have tea with the Queen of England."— to PEOPLE, 2011
07of 08
Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock
“I’m going to sail the Nile before it’s all over. I would like to see the pyramids and the Sphinx. I want to do Broadway — on my terms. And I have a standing invitation to have tea with the Queen of England.”
— to PEOPLE, 2011
08of 08Michael Ochs Archives/Getty"Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift."— toPEOPLE, 2016
08of 08
“Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift.”
source: people.com
