For me, cooking is very connected to my family and friends.

Standing behind a kitchen counter telling people about what ingredients to put in a pot didn't feel right.

We sat together as a family for dinner at night. And my mother had a job. My dad had a job. But there was always a meal on the table at 6:00, you know.

I finished high school, moved to Nashville for college, and set out to break into the music business. Every night when I called home with news of my experiences, my mom and dad would encourage me to keep taking those small steps.

I always want to sing, but I don't always want to be trying to have No. 1 records. I don't think you can do it forever. I don't know what the time span of that is going to be. I want to sing because I want to sing.

I absolutely refused to make out with the gorgeous male model.

I almost never make stuff out of cookbooks because they're either too complicated or there's an ingredient in there that I can't find.