Stephen Sondheim

I was raised to be charming, not sincere.

One of the hardest things about writing lyrics is to make the lyrics sit on the music in such a way that you're not aware there was a writer there.

I chose and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken; the choosing was not. You have to move on.

I've done gospel songs on every album.

When I do my makeup, it kind of helps me get into the character that I'm trying to portray.

Well, I actually wrote her a letter a couple of days ago congratulating her. The tone I tried to convey in the letter is, look, you are a part of a great American historical process.