She was awarded an honorary doctorate for her services to music from
the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the
1998 Commencement Ceremonies.
She was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts on February 25, 2010 at the White House in Washington D.C. for her services and contributions to music.
She made her opera debut in Berlin in 1969 in Wagner's "Tannhäuser" and her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1983 in Berlioz' "Les Troyens".
She earned a scholarship to study music at Howard University in Washington DC, then attended the Peabody Conservatory and the University of Michigan.