My first record deal was an independent record deal back in 1995 or early 1996.

My message to kids who bully other kids is: You know it's wrong! What's really going on? Try not to make somebody else's life miserable because you are.

I love Halloween, trick or treating and decorating the house. And I love Thanksgiving, because of the football and the fall weather. And of course, I love Christmas - that's my favorite of all!

I want to see success right away. And I want to never give up, never stop.

It's important to show solidarity for a child, no matter what. It's important for a child to be raised in a situation where she sees love, solidarity, commitment and honor.

I enjoy every minute, because there are going to be a lot of moments in your future that you're going to wish you held onto longer.

When people have passion there's nothing they can't do.

The Lord has blessed me more than I deserve.

I need to find a church on Sunday. I need to say 'please' and 'thank you,' 'yes sir' and 'no ma'am.' Do the little things because that's part of being an adult.

There's been a lot of really cool stuff that's happened to me throughout my career, and I remember everything, but I don't think I savored every moment of it like I should have or like I do now.

I am a sports fanatic and being able to perform at halftime for the fans of the Steelers and the Jets is such a thrill for me.

The goal of education is to enable individuals to continue their education.

There is a vibrational effect in every action, just as there is vibration that rings from every letter in every word.

Good influences are positive, and they see the good in even bad situations.

Should I just sit down, right here at carousel seven, and shake until somebody's arms are around me and they're saying, 'It's okay, I'm here, I'm here, come with me to the institute.

In my experience, God rarely makes our fear disappear. Instead, he asks us to be strong and take courage.

Friendship has no civil, and few emotional, rights in our society.

The monsters of the mind are far worse than those that actually exist.

Look up at the stars and you're gone.

I feel saddened when people who have major friendships or marriages wind up on the outs. Because I think you lose a little piece of yourself.

I believe the novella is the perfect form of prose fiction.