When I got a record deal I said, 'I'm only wearing jeans. I'm not wearing frilly dresses.' Dancing around in sequins is just not who I am. I wanted to be heard, not seen.

Platinum is a lot of things: it's hair, it's diamonds and platinum

My mom was never afraid to say, 'I'm sorry. I screwed up.' I feel like that's an important lesson.

I don't really do acting. I've done a little bit - enough to know I'll stick to what I know. Music is my thing.

I think being a Texan - we sort of have that extra fire in us as a breed. I just felt like from day one I had something to say and I wanted to make sure people heard me, and it's worked.

At the very beginning of my career I felt very strongly about what type of artist I wanted to be.

People naturally change a lot during their 20s, so my songs reflect that progression.