The minute you walk through the door and your kid runs into your arms, you're smacked in the face with a dose of reality: It's like, this is my real life.

Children are easily influenced, and I always want to do things I can be proud to show my kids someday.

I don't know why 'happy' can't be a story.

Nashville is one of the greatest places for the best songwriters in the world. It's been fantastic to live there and to raise our family there. It's a great town.

I think beauty comes from within. If you're happy and look at life in the best way you can, even when there are problems, it can make you beautiful on the outside.

Nashville was totally different than I ever dreamed. I had only seen the music business on television and been to a couple of concerts. I had no clue.

I have this strength that comes from knowledge.

Country music is the people's music. It just speaks about real life and about truth and it tells things how they really are.

It's not complicated to embrace life. You just have to make the choice.

A little bit of stage fright, then I'm ready.

It's okay to take time for yourself. We give so much of ourselves to others and we need to be fueled both physically and mentally. If we are in balance, it helps us in all our interactions.

Keep a cool surface. Calm. Detached. As inside a part of you has been shattered.

Order and reason, beauty and benevolence, are characteristics and conceptions which we find solely associated with the mind of man.

My nails clawed against the smooth tiles as I pushed up onto my hands and knees. I rose unsteadily to my feet.Speed is my ally. Breathe. In and out. Focus. Time is my power.

I wasn't the kind of girl who liked to wait around to be rescued.

You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.

Each department of knowledge passes through three stages. The theoretic stage the theological stage and the metaphysical or abstract stage.

Ignorance is constricted awareness.

America has an immense amount of power, but it doesn't use it in any benevolent way. It uses it to maintain a status quo.

Happiness does not come from consumption of things.

Despair is your friend in show business. I don't believe you can act if happiness is your lot. It's the ups that keep you living and the downs that mete out talent.