The singing star has been loved by many for more than two decades and is widely considered one of the greatest rhythm & blues and soul artists. Her plaudits including more than 25 million records sold worldwide, a Grammy Award, two BRIT Awards, and 10 studio albums.

New Zealanders were amongst her earliest fans. As the history books show, I Try went straight to number one in New Zealand, while On How Life Is spent 44 weeks on the New Zealand Albums Chart — a long time, it is said, before America fully caught on.