This may sound funny, but I feel my most beautiful when I'm clean, fresh out of the bath. I don't have to be dressed up. I could be in comfy clothes at home hanging out with my family.

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.

Connie Heermann is a Freedom Writer teacher. I believe she represents the best of what dedicated teachers can be because she chose to serve her students, not her school board.

The Difference Between Dreams & Success Is, Dreams Need Effortless Sleep & Success Needs Sleepless Efforts

No one really has the power, and everybody's trying to get through the day, and everybody's nervous and desperate.

I had never heard of Rumi until Robert Bly handed me this book and he said, ah, “These poems need to be released from their cages.”

I love adventures so to me, the best part is you never know what's going to happen next.

I believe I am a moderate Democrat: I am pro-business and also progressive.

Nothing is so boring as having to keep up a deception.

I adore my apartment in New York. It was a ballroom that I remade, so it's like a loft but done by Louis the Fifteenth.

I drink when I want and how much I want. Sometimes I get in really bad states, but it doesn't cause me or anyone else any problems.

It's not too far; it just seems like it is.