Quotes from Carlene Carter

I grew up quick because my family was away a lot, and I took care of my sister. Then in my 20s, I went through my teens, with these 'wild abandon' things.

Lots of girls marry at 16 in Tennessee.

I just know what I want, and I'm willing to butt heads with folks to get it.

Grandma and Mama showed me that you always have to give as much as you can, no matter what.

Whenever I've not known what to do, I've always gone back to the Carter Family because there was nothing like singing with my aunts and my mom to my grandma.

I challenged myself to carry on the style of guitar that my grandmother did: the Carter scratch.

A lot of people said I was a rebel. I wasn't.

My grandma passed in '78, and that's the year I started recording. It's also the year that my dad retired from his career. So it's funny how torches get passed on, and you feel a responsibility to be connected to the music that they did and try to carry it on in your own way.

I've always wanted to make records that rock like hell. But also, I've never wanted to compromise that Country place deep inside.

MusiCares was really good to me. I can't say enough how MusiCares helps other people. They really, really helped me. They have the greatest groups and support for musicians in recovery.

Hopefully, people will rediscover real country music. After all, it's in my blood.

Even city people have ancestors who had their hands in the dirt.

I can laugh and cry at the drop of a freakin' hat - all at the same time.

My Smiths, my Carters, the Cashes - everybody embraced me and held my arms up when I couldn't do it myself.

I moved back to Tennessee in '86 or '87. That's when I worked with the Carter Family because I really wanted to understand my roots.

I've always been one to throw caution to the wind, and my motto has been, 'Never have a dull moment.' Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, but I don't think I'd have it much differently.

It's a matriarchal family, the Carters. A.P. was the original head of the Carter family, but the women were always strong. There were no questions asked in that regard; you had better be strong.

I never, by any regard, ever denied any part of my family roots.

I don't have any regrets at all.

Working with Mellencamp, I made new fans, people that may have never heard of me. They may have heard I was related to the Carter Family or Johnny Cash somehow, but what they got was pure Carlene.

I've had a few ditty hits.

I've matured as a writer and human being. I've got some wisdom under my belt.

The first time I went on stage as an adult was touring with the Johnny Cash Show. I'd sang as a child. But my grown-up initiation was as part of that band.

I think, looking back, there was a lot of fear of success in me. When you are successful, you have to keep it up... it requires you to be responsible, and I had been pretty irresponsible.