When I'm performing for the people, I am me, then. I am that little girl who, when she was five years old, used to sing at church. Or I'm that 15-year-old young lady who wanted to be grown and wanted to sing and couldn't wait to be smokin' a cigarette, you know? Etta James churchcigarettegirl share on social
All the things I used to like - cookies, ice cream, gumbo - I don't like anymore. Etta James anymorecookiecream Change image and share on social
My mother always wanted me to be glamorous. When I thought about that, it really fired me up, and once I lost all those pounds, I started to feel really good about myself. Etta James feelfireglamorous Change image and share on social
See, I don't like places where people can't dance - don't like clubs or theatres where a bunch of bourgeois people sit around tip, tip, tipping their fingers. Etta James bourgeoisbunchclub Change image and share on social
I was originally like a punker, know what I mean, like the punks are today, I'd spit in a minute. Etta James minuteoriginallypunk Change image and share on social
Johnny Guitar... just one of my favorite singers of all time. I met him when we were both on the road with Johnny Otis in the '50s when I was a teenager. We traveled the country in a car together. I would hear him sing every night. Etta James 50scarcountry share on social
Long as I was riding in a big Cadillac and dressed nice and had plenty of food, that's all I cared about. Etta James bigcadillaccare Change image and share on social
To me, country music is like the blues, but it's something very hip and - I don't want to say commercial - but it's very worldly and good listening. Etta James bluecommercialcountry Change image and share on social
I was a sloppy kid, wanted to be just wild. Etta James kidsloppywant Change image and share on social
