Bettye LaVette Quotes, born Betty Jo Haskins on January 29, 1946, in Muskegon, Michigan, is an American soul singer-songwriter whose six-decade career blends soul, blues, rock, funk, gospel, and country. Rising from Detroit’s R&B scene in 1962 with her hit “My Man – He’s a Lovin’ Man,” she faced decades of challenges before her critical acclaim with albums like I’ve Got My Own Hell to Raise (2005) and Things Have Changed (2018).
These 15 quotes—sourced from interviews, her memoir A Woman Like Me (2012), and public statements—reflect her resilience, authenticity, and unfiltered take on life, music, and success.
15 Bettye LaVette Quotes
- “It’s much better to find success later in life. It takes a very long time to become good.” (Interview, The Washington Post, 2019)
- “I don’t really like to sing things that I wouldn’t say. If I sing it, I would more than likely say it.” (Interview, during release of I’ve Got My Own Hell to Raise, 2005)
- “Every record company I went to, none of those fools would sign me.” (Interview, The Guardian, 2015)
- “I’ve been waiting for [The Rolling Stones] to call for sixty years. They finally found my number!” (Statement on joining the Stones Tour ‘24, www.bettyelavette.com, 2024)
- “I’m a song stylist, so if you can write a great lyric, I probably am interested in what you write.” (Interview, Berkshire Eagle, 2025)
- “It took me a long time to accept that I may never be a star. But I have mastered my craft.” (Interview, The Guardian, 2015)
- “Drinking and cussing is something I’ve always done.” (Interview, The Guardian, 2020)
- “I ain’t got no plan B.” (Song, “Plan B,” LaVette!, 2023, reflecting her life’s ethos)
- “When you’re young and your career starts at a very young age, you don’t know how to separate yourself from it.” (Interview, The Guardian, 2015)
- “I would never marry anyone in this business. But [my husband] can play keyboards, harmonica, guitar. And he can sing, and I just married him to get him out of circulation.” (Interview, Berkshire Eagle, 2025)
- “I’m dreamin’ dreams of my used-to-be, tellin’ everybody I’ll be just fine.” (Song, “Lazy (and I Know It),” LaVette!, 2023)
- “That’s what I know about history now—because it’s become a passion of mine—I’m very, very frightened. This does not look or feel right or comfortable at all.” (Interview, Berkshire Eagle, 2025, on current political climate)
- “Now I’m gonna smoke me a joint, drink me a glass of champagne, and go back to work on the next album.” (Post on X, @BettyeLaVette, 2021)
- “I wish I had Ray Charles’s career. I’d like to give five, well-attended, highly priced concerts a year. I’d like everyone to be really quiet while I sing for two hours.” (Interview, The Telegraph, 2023)
- “I treat them all as songs. I don’t care where they came from.” (Interview, Since I Left You, 2020, on her approach to covering songs)
Bettye LaVette’s quotes pulse with grit, humor, and soulful defiance, reflecting a life lived unapologetically. Which one resonates with you? Drop it in the comments and keep her fire burning!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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