My experience with songwriting is usually so confessional, it's so drawn from my own life and my own stories.

It can be heartbreaking when you find out that your fairytale image of the world doesn't match the reality.

My dad (Scott Swift) believed in me, even when I didn't.He always knew I could do this. I’m sure that everyone in Reading remembers how much he talked about me. I thought that was sweet, but really I just wasn’t as sure it would happen. So, I just love my dad for believing in his little girl.

A lot of people have pretty little heads, but it's difficult to find a pretty little mind.

When I was 9 or 10, I used to get all the lead roles because I was the tallest person. But my interest in music soon drew me to country music. I was infatuated with the sound, with the storytelling. I could relate to it. I can't really tell you why. With me, it was just instinctual.

Fans are my favorite thing in the world. I've never been the type of artist who has that line drawn between their friends and their fans. The line's always been really blurred for me. I'll hang out with them after the show. I'll hang out with them before the show. If I see them in the mall, I'll stand there and talk to them for 10 minutes.

I try to read as much as I can. I try to read an informative article every day. I try to stay read up on our world issues.