So I think that if I do feel more freedom right now in my career, it's not so much because I have less at stake but more a sense that I've learned more.

The bedrock thing of country music is, it's about storytelling. I feel like I was able to find a niche because I connected to that in some way.

You've gotta know happy. You've gotta know sad. 'Cause you're gonna know lonely and you're gonna know sad

I've never... when I was having songs on the airwaves, and that sort of thing, I never felt a sense of pressure anywhere except from myself, to do things the way I wanted to do them; to feel authentic; to feel like I was presenting my true self to the world.

Was it a light only she could see? A gypsy's spell? A mystery?

I don't think you need to dumb down to a child, you merely have to be clear, you know?

I woke to find every window open I woke to find the heavy door ajar And I walked outside and stood upon the hilltop And gazed once more on a bright morning star I walked outside and every bird was singing As I found again my bright morning star