i believe i finally made it home. >> when labelle broke up, hendryx, always seen as the risk taker of the three, struck out on her own, developing a new identity as a soloist. >> i always wrote with pat's voice in my head for the lead of a song that i was writing. and now i had to hear my voice doing it. >> early in her career hendryx used her art to support activist causes. as a self described bisexual she focused on people with aids and the lgbt community. >> so i never felt ostracized in any way. and having to watch and having many of my friends die from-- contracting h.i.v. and died from a.i.d.s. that-- s-- being vocal, speaking up, s-- being supportive, doing what i could to help. >> from politics to race, she takes tough topics and makes music. >> black people killing black people. and where did you learn that? which is the question i ask. >> almost 50 years later, the r&b diva is still performing, transforming herself through the decades. she just opened her first solo art exhibit, not coincidentally titled "transformation". we caught up with nona hendryx at the sol studio in h

. >> this week on "talk to al jazeera", singer / songwriter and artist nona hendryx. >> taking risks, sometimes it's, you know, doing that, i find something that didn't exist for me. or i can create something that nobody else will. >> she's best know for being one third of the famed group labelle. lady marmalade was their biggest hit. but it was just one of many that topped the charts. she grew up in new jersey, influenced by gospel music. she was the creative force behind much of labelles's success. >> it always comes, the melody lyric come together. i wrote the songs that are-- like-- going down to your river-- system, candlelight, can i speak to you before you go to hollywood? i believe i finally made it home. >> when labelle broke up, hendryx, always seen as the risk taker of the three, struck out on her own, developing a new identity as a soloist. >> i always wrote with pat's voice in my head for the lead of a song that i was writing. and now i had to hear my voice doing it. >> early in her career hendryx used her art to support activist causes. as a self described bisexual she f

>> this week on "talk to al jazeera", singer / songwriter and artist nona hendryx. >> taking risks, sometimes it's, you know, doing that, i find something that didn't exist for me. or i can create something that nobody else will. >> she's best know for being one third of the famed group labelle. lady marmalade was their biggest hit. but it was just one of many that topped the charts.

. >> this week on "talk to al jazeera", singer / songwriter and artist nona hendryx. >> taking risks,ometimes it's, you know, doing that, i find something that didn't exist for me. or i can create something that is i can create something that biggest hit. but it was just one of many that topped the charts. she grew up in new jersey, influenced by gospel music.

. >> this week on "talk to al jazeera", singer / songwriter and artist nona hendryx. >> taking risks, sometimes it's, you know, doing that, i find something that didn't exist for me. or i can create something that nobody else will. >> she's best know for being one third of the famed group labelle. lady marmalade was their biggest hit. but it was just one of many that topped the charts. she grew up in new jersey, influenced by gospel music. she was the creative force

. >> this week on "talk to al jazeera", singer / songwriter and artist nona hendryx. >> taking risks, sometimes it's, you know, doing that, i find something that didn't exist for me. or i can create something that nobody else will. >> she's best know for being one third of the famed group labelle. lady marmalade was their biggest hit.

aljazeera.com nona hendryx. >> taking risks, sometimes it's, you know, doing that, i find something that didn't exist for me. or i can create something that nobody else will. >> she's best know for being one third of the famed group labelle. lady marmalade was their biggest hit. but it was just one of many that topped the charts. she grew up in new jersey, influenced by gospel music. sh