The only time that I am really truly happy—when I feel at my best—is when I'm on the stage.

Country music has the great stories.

When I'm performing for the people, I am me, then. I am that little girl who, when she was five years old, used to sing at church. Or I'm that 15-year-old young lady who wanted to be grown and wanted to sing and couldn't wait to be smokin' a cigarette, you know?

I talked to the record company about what I had in mind. They said they wanted something lush. I figured the best thing to do was let them hear what I had in mind.

My mother always told me, even if a song has been done a thousand times, you can still bring something of your own to it. I'd like to think I did that.

Now I can stand up on the stage again like I used to after five years of sitting down while I sang.

It feels so good to be happy.