Aretha Franklin

I'm not afraid of anything. I'm a survivor.

I'm a very strong person. I can handle anything that comes my way.

I'm a very determined person. I never give up.

I'm a very resilient person. I always bounce back.

I'm a very optimistic person. I always see the good in everything.

I'm not a diva. I'm a queen.

I’m not gonna let some clown come in here and tell me how to sing my own damn song.

I respect people for their level of intelligence. I don't respect people for their money.

I don't think I'm a feminist. I'm a woman. I'm a woman who sings.

I'm not going to sit around and be anybody's victim. I'm going to take care of business.

I don't understand people who don't care about their appearance. That's a sign of a lack of self-respect.

I don't have any regrets. I've lived my life the way I wanted to.

I sing to the realists. People who accept it the way it is.

Being the Queen of Soul is a lot of hard work.

I don't go out without my makeup. I'm not that kind of girl.

I'm a very private person. I don't like to talk about my personal life.

I just want to be respected. I don't want to be adored.

I don't care what anybody says about me. I'm going to do what I want to do.

I've always been a strong woman. I've always been independent.

I love to cook. I'm a real good cook.