It was my 16th birthday - my mom and dad gave me my Goya classical guitar that day. I sat down, wrote this song, and I just knew that that was the only thing I could ever really do - write songs and sing them to people.

I have my own life. And I am stronger than you know.

Even in my really bad, drugged-out days, I didn't go away. I still toured, still did interviews. I never gave up the fight. That's why I'm who I am today, because I didn't leave. And I think I made the right choice.

Thunder only happens when it's raining.

I said,'Instead of going in the direction that a lot of the women singers are going in [revealing], I'll be very, very sexy under 18 pounds of chiffon and lace and velvet...I will have mystique.

The day before my 16th birthday I got my guitar.

I saw her do 'Different Drum' and thought, that's what I'm gonna do. I don't look that good in cut-offs, but that's what I'm gonna do.