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.

When I started out, it was this sense of, "Let's put out a record and see what happens and see where you go and see how you feel and where we can take it." That was a very different world back then.

My sisters and I were fortunate to travel through Asia and Europe at very young ages. We confronted extraordinary beauty in Athens and unspeakable poverty in India.

As far as politically how country music goes, it's true that it's regarded from a distance as a genre of music that at different times, the more right elements of the political spectrum have claimed for their own.

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

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

It's a marvelous feeling when someone says I want to do this song of yours because they've connected to it. That's what I'm after.