Quotes

There's plenty of days when I'm like "Oh God, why?". But that's just life. It's every job, not just mine. Every moment is not perfect. But it's definitely more good times than bad. You can't even compare. And when I'm on stage it feels incredible. There are certain nights that you know you hit that crazy note and you know that spin spinned extra fast. And you look out and people are just into it and you've worked so hard and now it's paying off and you can see why you dedicated your life to this.

[on comparisons to J-Lo] It doesn't annoy me, no, because I respect J-Lo. I like her, I think she's great. And I know that I'm over a decade younger than her, it's so flattering that I'm so young and people are comparing me to someone who has accomplished so much. But I don't think I'm like anyone else and really, I'd rather not be compared to anyone else.

[on her song "Bootylicious"] I wrote that because, at the time, I'd gained some weight and the pressure that people put you under, the pressure to be thin, is unbelievable. I was just 18 and you shouldn't be thinking about that. You should be thinking about building up your character and having fun and the song was just telling everyone just forget what people are saying, you're bootylicious. That's all. It's a celebration of curves and a celebration of women's bodies.

Who I am on stage is very, very different to who I am in real life. But I don't see that having a sexy image when you are on stage means that you don't love God. No one knows what I'm really like from that. I like to walk around with bare feet and I don't like to comb my hair. I'm always so glammed up and so diva on stage and that's what they see. People don't understand that... No one knows my personal relationship with God and it's not up to me to prove that to anyone.

For me, it's about the way I carry myself and the way I treat other people. My relationship and how I feel about God and what He does for me, is something deeply personal. It's where I came from, my family, I was brought up in a religious household and that's very important to me. But I understand the mentality of people. I know that people judge others based on certain things. I know how celebrities really are. I've done it too. You meet people - rock stars, rappers, whoever - who you have seen on television and you go into their homes and they are regular people, just like everyone else.

[When asked about the disbanding of Destiny's Child] Not because one person wants to go solo. Or not because we don't like each other. Or because we're not selling records anymore. But because it has to end at a certain point. (June 2005)

We all have our imperfections. But I'm human and you know, it's important to concentrate on other qualities besides outer beauty.

One of the things that kept me out of trouble was doing something creative - creativity can't be judged.

On Bollywood cinema: I'm a fan of a few Bollywood films. I have seen Devdas (2002) and Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001), both great films. I loved Devdas (2002) - the actress was amazing! I cried towards the end of the film. Indian films are very colorful. It can be fun to do a film like that at least once. Given a chance, I'd love to do an Indian film. (December 2004)

On her religious faith and the categorizing of gay society: Well, you know, I grew up going to church, but I was raised by my uncle who passed away with AIDS a couple of years ago. He was my mother's best friend. And my mother's cousin. He brought me to school every day. He helped me buy my prom dress. He made my clothes with my mother. He was like my nanny. He was my favorite person in the world. And you know, I never really mixed Christianity with how I felt about him. I am about faith and spirituality more so than religion. Doing right by others and not judging.

If I weren't performing, I'd be a beauty editor or a therapist. I love creativity, but I also love to help others. My mother was a hairstylist, and they listen to everyone's problems - like a beauty therapist!

When I sing a song, I definitely have the image for the video in my mind. I kind of hear the choreography that will be in the video, and I can see how I'll look, even before anyone--the record company, the director--has heard the song.

I discovered after going to music festivals that I am a rock fan. I love the guitars, the phrasing, and the abandon of rock fans. You may be shocked to know that I love Peter Gabriel. His voice is so pure. Listen to In Your Eyes.

I'm like everyone else. I have days when I look in the mirror and I'm like "Oh my gosh, I wish I could change this or that." The more you mature, you realize that this imperfections make your more beautiful.

[on what helps to animate her act] I'm like "Please piss me off before the performance.".

I don't like to gamble, but if there's one thing I'm willing to bet on, it's myself.

If you live your life with kindness and give other people great energy, that beauty and great energy come back to you.

Not everyone is supposed to be the same. Be healthy and take care of yourself - and be happy with the beautiful things that made you.

[Mike Myers, her costar in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), recalls this rare reminder of her youth. "I mentioned that it would be good to mash together "Baby Boy" and "The Ocean", by Led Zeppelin."] Who's Led Zeppelin?

[on hurricane Harvey and hurricane Irma] Just when you think it couldn't possibly get worse, natural disasters take take precious life, do massive damage, and forever change lives, leaving behind contaminated water, flooded hospitals, schools, and nursing homes and countless families are now homeless. Natural disasters don't discriminate. They don't see if you're an immigrant, black or white, Hispanic or Asian, Jewish or Muslim, wealthy or poor. It doesn't matter if you're from Houston neighborhoods Third Ward or River Oaks, we're all in this together

it's impossible to watch the news without seeing violence or racism in this country.

[on singing in Spanish] I grew up in Texas and one of my good friends from there is Mexican and she was so excited when she heard that I was doing songs in Spanish. She turned me on to Selena's album when I was growing up and I listened to it all the time. At the time, I wasn't too familiar with Spanish speaking artists. A lot of my fans are Hispanic and they've always told me, 'you should sing something in Spanish' but I don't speak Spanish at all. I took it in school but I don't speak it at all but I thought let me give this a try.

[on meeting with the Tejano singer Selena] I did actually meet Selena in the Galleria Mall in Houston, but I didn't say much to her because I wasn't a celebrity. I just saw her and said hello and kept it moving. Definitely growing up in Texas, I heard her on the radio. I think listening to her album - even though I didn't know exactly what she was saying - it helped me in the studio with my pronunciation. I think she is a legend. I admire her. She was so talented.

[on admiring the Latino culture and her Latino fans] I would thank them for embracing me. I did radio (promotions) this morning for hours and hours and I noticed a big difference between speaking to all of the Latino stations and speaking to the pop stations or the other stations. With the Latino stations, there was so much love and everyone is so genuine. I'm just jealous that I wasn't born Latina. I wish I had been because the culture is so beautiful. I'm very grateful Latinos are embracing me.

[on Jennifer Lopez, Selena, and Shakira] Jennifer Lopez, I completely admire her story of growing up in the Bronx and the success that she's had and the empire she's created. She's a very intelligent woman. I got a chance to work with her on the Pepsi commercial. She's unbelievably beautiful and talented. Of course. Selena. Growing up in Texas, hearing about her all time. I've actually performed at rodeos. I know she did that a lot. And she's close to me because of where I'm from. I've also admired Shakira. We just did a song called "Beautiful Liar" and I just think that her dancing and her singing is a very unique style. But more important, she's the nicest most humble woman I've ever worked with. I think the great thing about our duet is that we're at a great point in our careers, we're both in our prime and we worked together and it was nothing but positive and effortless. It just seemed like we were long lost sisters. We looked alike and did certain things alike in that video. It's so weird because we grew up on different sides of the world.

[on connecting with the Latino culture] I feel connected for one because family is very important to me and I know it's important to all my Latino fans and just the heart and the rhythm of the music and the drums and the spiciness it reminds me of Creole. It reminds me of my heritage and where I come from.

I'm a little messy. Oh, yeah. Whenever I'm out in public, I have to be put together. When I get home, I rebel against it and I don't want to take care of anything. I drop it. I think that is the most difficult thing for him [Jay-Z]. He's very, very organized.

In 2003, I had my first solo album. But when I played it through for my record label, they told me I didn't have one hit on my album. I guess they were kinda right, I had five. "Dangerously in Love", "Naughty Girl", "Me, Myself and I", "Baby Boy" and "Crazy in Love.