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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.
Carlene Carter
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Lots of girls marry at 16 in Tennessee.
Carlene Carter
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There's something unnatural about losing a sibling when they're young.
Carlene Carter
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One good thing is I was instilled with really good values. My mom treats everyone the same.
Carlene Carter
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I hate parameters. They immediately alienate a bunch of people.
Carlene Carter
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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.
Carlene Carter
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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.
Carlene Carter
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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.
Carlene Carter
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There was a period where I was a little scared that I'd blown my chance.
Carlene Carter
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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.'
Carlene Carter
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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.
Carlene Carter
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My Smiths, my Carters, the Cashes - everybody embraced me and held my arms up when I couldn't do it myself.
Carlene Carter
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I'm kind of a perfectionist about my songwriting. If I don't mean it, I don't think it's any good.
Carlene Carter
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Even city people have ancestors who had their hands in the dirt.
Carlene Carter
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In the late '70s, I was falling into the middle lane. I was way too country to be rock, and way too rock to be a country act.
Carlene Carter
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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.
Carlene Carter
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Sometimes, it's good to stick to your guns.
Carlene Carter
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I love rock n' rollers.
Carlene Carter
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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.
Carlene Carter
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My mom is a great entertainer.
Carlene Carter
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The first five albums I did, I tried a little bit of everything. I was trying not to conform at all.
Carlene Carter
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I got into photography when my kids were little, and I continued talking pictures over the years.
Carlene Carter
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I'm pretty much an open book.
Carlene Carter
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I like things all shined up and rocking with hooky pop choruses.
Carlene Carter
