Carlene Carter

I've always had wanderlust to try and do different things, but I always return to the music of the Carter family.

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.

I believe everything falls into place as it's supposed to.

I always wanted to be the rockin'est country chick in the universe.

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 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.

Everyone deals with loss. I'm no different, but we all find our ways of coming through things. Is it tough? Of course, but you find the strength to push on through.

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.

I got into photography when my kids were little, and I continued talking pictures over the years.

I was always in a big hurry to do everything. Before I was 20, I was married twice and had two kids. But I don't regret any of it. I learned a lot about myself. I had a lot to say for someone my age, real early on.

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