I started speaking about what I was dealing with through my music, and 4 million women responded and said, 'Us too, Mary.' And I didn't know that everyone was hurting like I was hurting. I had no idea.

God comes first - if I don't love him, I can't love anybody, and if I can't love me I can't love nobody.

I listen to gospel music.

Don't give up, be positive and if you know someone who knows someone at a record company don't stop beating down their door till you get heard. Don't ever say it'll never happen or it'll never happen.

This music business can suck all the love out of you, all the compassion for people - you can start to think you're better than them. But I want to continue to let people know that I'm no better and no worse, I'm just like you.

I've been a tomboy my whole life. But then you get older, you get married, you soften up.

I decided to start my own label because so many people with talent come to me wanting to know how they can get in the music business.