Carlene Carter

“I like to do one thing at a time and do it to the best of my ability.”

“I was thinking about it: so many of my stories are about my family life, not about being related to a lot of famous people. That's my grandma, that's my mama, my daddy, my aunt, my uncle, my stepdaddy. I'd probably tell them even if they weren't well known.”

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

“Be yourself. And every person is unique.”

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

“I feel the audience are friends that have come to see us. That was always how we look on it in the Carter Family. I've never suffered stage fright.”

“I'm kind of a perfectionist about my songwriting. If I don't mean it, I don't think it's any good.”

“I do feel I'm responsible to carrying on the music. That's what I was charged with as a kid. When I was a little girl, I was told, 'When we are gone' - when you're a kid, you never think they'll ever be gone - 'you have to keep the music alive, the Carter Family songs, and add your own songs.'”

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

“Sometimes I get emotional when I'm doing 'Lonesome Valley' or 'Wildwood Rose.'”

“I've had a few ditty hits.”

“I don't really have any ditties left in me anymore.”

“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.”

“I'm really about my family and really proud of being a Carter.”

“Music should be judged on what you hear, not what you think you might hear.”

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

“I love to be surrounded by nature.”

“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 love rock n' rollers.”