I shall always respect the composer. If I embellish, it is his idea I am embellishing..

Middle-aged women have greater stability, they are more loyal, and their capacity for steady work is greater than that of younger women..

I am continually embarrassed by people who point me out as an example of what can be done without training..

I have been extremely lucky with reviewers and critics throughout my career..

I have personally believed in every product I have ever advertised..

I could not separate myself off stage from myself on stage, as so many actors can..

It became obvious in 1957 that I was endangering my health by carrying so much weight..

I was always daydreaming about singing in big productions on Broadway..

Every small town has its dramatic group, its barber-shop quartet, every home has music in one form or another..

Ice cream was my undoing, and six chocolate milk shakes in a row were nothing to me at one time..

I know I'm fat and I know my hair is straight, but I can sing..

It has been said that genius is only the power of making continuous effort. The line between failure and success is so fine that we scarcely know whe….

I love animals to the extent that my home is my dog's home! Which means that nothing is too good for my Freckles-chairs, couches, beds. But I do draw….

I vowed that whenever my family needed me, I would give up everything to go to them, no matter what. The show must go on was meaningless to me..

In 29 years, I had recorded over 2,200 songs. I was amazed..

I just can't read music..

During the presidential primaries of 1940, I received a request from the Democratic National Committee to sing God Bless America before the speeches..

I must work hard to make my singing above reproach; there must be no faults which hard work would take care of..

I sometimes get that wonderful sympathy between me and the audience, telling me I've reached their hearts. And when I do, the thrill is mine..

I could see myself in a white nurse's uniform, working unnoticed for many years and at last dying, unknown, unmarried and unsung..

Intelligent analysis of the composer's intention and strict adherence to it automatically ensures sincerity..