"The lovely thing about being a grandparent is you can just love them to pieces, spoil them–and then give 'em back! You don't have that extra responsibility. You just have fun, FUN. It's inspiring for me to watch how they grow, and who they become through the nurturing of both their mother and their father."

"But I could sing. It was given to me; it was a gift. And I thought everybody could sing."

"And I thought, I want to tell people who I am, the life that I had as a child, being married all my life. I mean, you know, I never had affairs with a lot of men; that was not my case. But I was very devoted to the two husbands I've had."

"It truly was incredible. It was so great for me. I did three shows while under contract with them. By the time I got into movies the studio system was over so in a way it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Because then I went on to do everything, from television to films and everything else."

"To tell you the truth, I was never attracted to handsome men because they were so attracted to themselves!"

"I tell the story of my life, how I got into show business, my two husbands and, of course, we show a lot of photographs."

"I read. But to be very honest, I don't have time for hobbies. I've been working like crazy. I just came back from a signing. You take everything you have, records...pictures... movies... CD's and you have a booth where you sign them for the public."

"Yet I'm now seeing Patrick as an adult and an actor onstage. He's a damn good actor. It's wonderful to see how he works."

"Shirley truly cares about her grandchildren, children, trees, the UPS man and me — in that order."

"It's just another sad love song Rackin' my brain like crazy Guess I'm all torn up Be it fast or slow It doesn't let go Or shake me And it's all because of you"

"And I can't get you out of my head And I know I can't pretend That I won't die if you decide You won't see me again If I never feel you in my arms again If I never feel your tender kiss again"

"So I try to relish in that moment and try to smile about it and just be grateful for the time you have and you have to always remember to be kind to one another."

"Holiday time makes me feel happy and festive and excited. I got a three-picture deal at Lifetime and I thought a Christmas movie would be the perfect way to come out and introduce it."

"I would say, ‘One day I’ll be really famous.'"

"My skin as an African American tends to be a little drier, since I’m getting up there, just going outside in the sun, and all the years of the things that I’ve done to my body being in the entertainment business. For me, it was having hyperpigmentation or sometimes you get light spots. I wanted to do something that represented me. I wanted something that I knew really worked."

"So I, I turn the radio on, I turn the radio up And this woman was singin' my song Lovers in love and the others run away Lover is crying 'cause the other won't stay"

"Do you eat sleep do you breathe me anymore? Do you sleep do you count sheep anymore? Do you sleep anymore?"

"And you say "Stay" You say I only hear what I want to"