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When I was young, I had an 'aha' moment in church. There was a thing called testimony service, and somebody would sing a song, and everyone else would join in, finding a note where they fit. During one of those, a light went on in my head. In that moment, I heard everything - Parliament, the Staple Singers, Curtis Mayfield, Prince - in there.

We went to church every Sunday. When I was a kid, the only time I sang was around my family.

Like all soul singers, I grew up singing in church but sometimes I would leave early and sit in the car listening to gospel band, The Blind Boys of Alabama. Hearing their lead singer Clarence made me connect the idea of church and show business and see how I could make a career singing music that stirred the soul.

I sang in church choir all my life, through elementary school, junior high and high school.

My mother raised me in the church. I was not allowed to stay home on Sunday; there was no option. I sang in the choir all the way up until I went to college.

I grew up around a lot of church musicians.

My father started me singing in church.

I sang in the choir for years, even though my family belonged to another church.

I grew up singing in church. I've been doing that since I was 3 years old. Singing was a blessing for me to do.

Music was a central part of my childhood because my mother played organ and piano in the church, and that meant all us kids had to be in the church choir.