I don't have maids or servants, and my husband and I love waking up early and going to the 24-hour supermarket when there is nobody else there.

There's a scripture that says, 'A merry heart doeth good like medicine.' I think that's true, too.

People always ask me how long it takes to do my hair. I don’t know, I’m never there.

I think [music and acting], they are connected, all that stuff. It's your emotional self, is pretty much how you do it, I think, from whatever place you do it, whether you're acting or you're singing.

As a songwriter, you're allowed to write anything, and as a person, I am all colors in the rainbow. I've been through everything, you know, so I can write a positive song like 'Better Get to Livin'' because that's my attitude. But that doesn't mean I'm happy all the time. You can't be a deep and serious songwriter without feelings. You kinda have to live with your feelings out on your sleeve and get hurt more than most people. The fear I might get hurt means I might not be able to write another song.

I remain totally convinced that if we can do one more simple thing to help kids and adults to learn more, it is to inspire them to read more.

One of the things I'm real proud of is I just made a deal with 20th Century Fox, and I've got my own production company now. I'm developing some television and movies for other people because I have a lot of fresh new ideas. To write is what I love the most.