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I named my new son James Joseph Brown II. I think he's going to be a lot better than I was.

James Brown became my father. He would talk to me the way a father talked to a son. He became the father I never had.

When you speak of role models, when we talk to our kids, everybody is a role model, everyone, just as you look at a Michael Jordan to be the terrific athlete he is.

I hear all the time from our audience about how it's nice to see a positive African-American role model for the younger kids out there that are watching.

I hope that somewhere in Small Town, U.S.A., a 15-year-old kid looks to me as a role model the way I looked at the Indigo Girls and Elton John as role models.

I think it's really cool how J. Lo's been able to balance an acting career and a music career. That's something I strive for.

James Brown was the Monday-to-Friday guy. He was the hardest man in show business. He was like your dad and your uncle: He showed up, and he hit hard.

To me, being a role model is awesome. It's a blessing.

James Brown was my favorite, my absolute idol. Every time I played with him was like a music lesson, and I never thought I could be so funky! I mean, a white boy from Canada - a Jew - getting down with his funky bad self!

Our children need to see and hear about more black role models in many fields so they can make better choices.