Kurt Elling Quotes

Fashion is an extension of expressing who you are. I love to entertain and put on a show. And that's definitely a part of that.

I guess if you can't sing, you better have a style!

Diana Ross is a big inspiration to all of us. We all grew up watching everything about her - her mike placement, her grace, her style and her class.

I went with a friend to see Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas, in the last year that he was performing. He wasn't necessarily on top form, but the way he could connect with an audience and the way he communicated through the lyrics was something I hadn't ever really seen before.

It's fun to look at people that are so good at acting that aren't actors, like David Bowie creating a mystique about rock n' roll.

There's a part of me that wishes I could go out in T-shirt and jeans, 'cause I really love Patti Smith, Cat Power, girls who look so casual; that appeals to me 'cause I guess it's the opposite from what I do. But I can never let myself just do that - I always have to try and dress up and create something.

Wearing a bow tie is a statement. Almost an act of defiance.

Wearing clothes should be a personal narrative of emotion. I always respond to fashion in an emotional way.

Over the years, I've loved being on stage with an orchestra, waving my hands around.

When I was 3, I recited a poem at a festival in Passaic, New Jersey. The applause was tremendous, and it hit me that I could affect people positively by performing.

Playing live is basically just hyperactivity and a certain sense of enchantment that I deliver to the audience, to let them know what it would be like to be inside my head.

I definitely like performing to a crowd that's there to see a female hero.

I was an extroverted kid and performed, like, acting and singing. Then, the older I got, I realized I enjoyed performing things that I came up with myself more and I enjoyed making people laugh more than making people cry or think.

I did one pageant in sixth grade, and I loved it! I loved the dresses and the big hair.

I think musicians oftentimes have the right skill set to be good actors. And with Rihanna, I noticed her and knew of her obviously, and was very taken with her charisma and her confidence.

The difference between you and the funny person on TV is that they acted on their ideas.

I love my lecture tours. I get up onstage. I have my stack of books and a glass of water and a microphone. No podium, no distance between me and the audience, and I just talk to people and get all excited and tell a lot of jokes, and sing some songs, and read from my work and remind people how powerful they are and how beautiful they are.

I always say, when you're onstage you can't please everybody. I'm sure there are people who may not take to what I do, but that's okay. Thank God the majority are in my corner.

So it's really nice after about a year and a half to get back on stage and flex those old muscles.

I'm a showgirl, as you can tell. I'm ever ready.

I look up to Mick Jagger because he's an amazing performer and he's such an individual. I respect him and admire him eternally.

'Saturday Night Live' is a very particular beast. What it celebrates are individuals who can stand out. I did good work there, but going onstage and saying, 'Hey! Hey! Look at me! Aren't I funny?' - that just wasn't my instinct.

Don't you understand how dramatic it is to be a comic? To be a fool, to get people to laugh at this show-off? Milton Berle could take Laurence Olivier and stick him under the table if he wanted to. And so could I.

I knew that I was 'interesting' at 18 because I was aware that I could get away with doing things on stage.

I know I'm not much on face value, but when it comes to stage value, I'll deliver for you.