Trisha Yearwood

“Music, from the time I was probably about five years old, was my obsession. I was going to say 'passion,' but I really was obsessed; I really didn't want to do anything else.”

“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.”

“My upbringing did not create a healthy affection for confrontation. I'd love it if everyone always got along, and nothing ever got tense.”

“Music is my No. 1 passion. If you made me choose between music and food, it's definitely music.”

“I was an A student and I liked creative writing.”

“Get your education, and if you see small opportunities, take them. Each one could be a stepping stone to something bigger.”

“If you're doing this because you feel like you have a burning desire to do it, then you'll find a way to do it, no matter what. If you're doing this because you're thinking, 'Hey, this will be really cool. I'll be famous. I'll be on YouTube,' then you'll probably quit, because it's not easy to do for the long haul.”

“What I've learned, traveling the country and doing book signings, Mama's biscuits - you know, somebody in Montana's got their version of Mama's biscuits, somebody in California's got their version - so it made me realize that we're not as regionalized as we think we are.”

“I don't spend time wondering what might be next; I just focus on trying to savor every day.”

“The first award I ever won was for Best New Artist from the ACMs, so they always will hold a special place in my heart.”

“Potato salad is very personal: everyone makes theirs differently.”

“When I was a little girl, I always dreamed of being a country music singer, but I never dreamed I'd be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”

“I did Scarsdale. I did Weight Watchers. I did Atkins.”

“I'm as surprised as anybody. I never would have thought I'd be here talking about having a cooking show on the Food Network. It wasn't on my list of things, but it's fun, and I'm having a good time.”

“I keep in touch with these people who knew me long before I got a record deal.”

“I really like Miranda Lambert. She has a great voice.”

“If you believe in astrology, I'm a Virgo, so I'm very controlling; I'm very neat, and I'm very organized.”

“The most important thing I want to get across is that maintaining weight loss is just hard. It takes a dedication to exercise and eating right most of the time.”

“After 'Real Live Woman,' I wasn't sure I'd ever want to make another record.”

“Divorce is so common and accepted in America that beating myself up over it may sound ridiculous. But I was raised to believe that divorce wasn't an option; to me, divorce equaled failure. I wasn't able to change that equation until I found myself in the right relationship.”