When the first record came out, I'd go down to radio stations pretty much every day to get the record played, and I would walk in and they'd tell us how much they loved the record, but they weren't sure how much they could play it because they were already playing a girl.

There are so many young women coming up through the ranks. Adele is an amazing singer. Beyonce has great stage presence. She's just a beautiful woman. I love how everyone has just taken charge of their lives and careers.

I felt I had a responsibility to do the right thing. And then I wanted to do the right thing by my family and there was no handbook.

You don't want to trash what you've done; that's your history.

I love Katy Perry and Lady GaGa. I think GaGa's pushing the envelope every day and I really like that.

But the soul of touring and the heart of it is basically every day is like putting up a circus tent.

My most important inspirational job that I do is raising those kids. That's my job. And that's where my ambition goes. But I have a life. I'm not only their mother. I'm still who I was before, I just don't get to be it all the time.