My dad took me to all the best rock and punk shows when I was growing up and music has always been a part of my life. So I'm very interested in the music scene and I suppose that's why I've ended up going out with musicians. Dave Pirner is still one of my best friends.

I have this sense that I didn't really start growing up until my twenties.

There's a couple of times that I did it for the... paycheck. Even when I was younger - I remember I did this movie that wasn't good, called '1969.' I totally did it 'cause I could get out of school.

When I was young, I was the sweetheart of the press. They loved me but were kind of waiting for me to mess up. I had no skeletons in my closet, no major past to talk about.

All glory goes to God. I can't describe what He's done for me and my family.

We must remember that North Carolina is more than a collection of regions and people. We are one state, one people, one family, bound by a common concern for each other.

We have so much poverty in our country. Not every parent can afford to buy their kids all the frills and perks, but teenagers still demand it, and are we responsible for it!

When I was very young, I used to share much of what I wrote with my family, but as I got older and more self-conscious, it became a much more private process.