Oprah Talks to Norah Jones
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Oprah: Didn't you move out of your apartment in Brooklyn?
Norah: Yes, to a much nicer apartment. Immediately after the Grammys, I didn't go back to my old apartment because reporters were standing outside. I just didn't want to deal with that.
Oprah: A lot has been said about that $1,400-a-month student apartment you'd been living in.
Norah: I think that's funny. Some people made a big deal about it being only $1,400, but coming from Texas, I'm thinking, "That's really expensive—even when you're splitting it with three people." When I told my mom how much I was paying, she was like "God, you're crazy."
Oprah: What an extraordinary year it's been for you! How do you figure this all happened to a young woman from Texas?
Norah: I think it's just luck.
Oprah: Do you believe in luck?
Norah: I do—and I've had a lot of luck in my life, knock on wood. I always get worried when something really great happens to me because I'm afraid that something really bad will happen next.
Oprah: Has that ever happened?
Norah: Not really—I just get nervous.
Oprah: I believe luck is preparation meeting opportunity. If you hadn't been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn't have been "lucky."
Norah: True—I've worked hard. But a lot of people work hard, so I feel like "Why did I get this opportunity?" I have about ten friends who are better singers and songwriters than I am. I don't really understand it all, but I think it's okay not to understand it.
Oprah: Yes, you just have to accept it and own it. So what do you want next for yourself?
Norah: I want to make a good second album, and I think we're on our way, which is exciting. My band already has about ten songs, but we might redo a few things. I'm trying to find a name for our group—if you have any ideas, let me know. I want something that isn't too dorky.