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I've never wanted to use my age as a gimmick, as something that would get me ahead of other people. I've wanted the music to do that.

There are so many artists who get to my age that get comfortable and just stick in a groove, and I really don't want to do that.

My thing is you just have to try to feel young and stay young. Obviously you get a little older, but I still want my music to be young. I don't want to sound like an old dad onstage, so you just have to write music that sounds young.

The music I write, I feel, is not the kind of music for a 25-year-old.

I can't do some of the songs that younger girls like Mary J. Blige and Beyonce are doing. They have their own place and I have my own place.

I've thought maybe of getting younger artists out doing stuff, like I used to do a lot of. I don't wanna do it day in and day out like I used to, but I still wanna do it.

I want to still be singing at 70 years old. I want to be open to the dreams I haven't even dreamed up.

But at the age of 44, I sure hope to be a better businesswoman. I want to get the music straight to my fans.

For a long time I was trying to be poppier and younger. I didn't want to be on public radio or do any of that stuff for older people. Then I realized that that is exactly what I listen to.