Check out who some of the stars nominated as their greatest influences.
Shes the first example I had.
My husband has been a big influence in my life.
I didnt think I was going to meet a nice guy.
He gave me faith in love and manhood and all those good juicy things.
He is a perfect human being.
Her husband, actor Julius Tennon, laughed it off, trying to protest her claims.
My grandmother was a huge influence, my mother, my father just to name a few people.
You have to reflect the times, he said.
Thats what I attempt to do.
I quote her all the time.
I quote Paul Robeson all the time who said that were gate keepers of truth.
An artists job is to be a gatekeeper of truth, so thats part of what we do.
We entertain, of course, as well.
RuPaul:My mother: Miss Ernestine Charles, said the host ofRuPauls Drag Racewithout hesitation.
Thats who she was.
Colson Whitehead:My kids, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author ofThe Underground Railroadtold EW.
They keep me on my toes.
But I think the one constant has been my mother.
Its really crucial the message she gave to me which was I could be anything I wanted to be.
Caveat: work hard.
Visualizing yourself achieving goals is just really important.
