Carlene Carter Quotes

Carlene Carter

Profession : Musician

Birth : September 26, 1955

Eccentricity has never been discouraged in our family.

Carlene Carter

There are no rules when it comes to songwriting, so I'd turn Carter family songs from the 1930s into pop songs.

Carlene Carter

Don't try to be like somebody else. You'll be miserable. You need to be yourself, and don't ever get a big head.

Carlene Carter

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

I challenged myself to carry on the style of guitar that my grandmother did: the Carter scratch.

Carlene Carter

I have great stories. I am going to write a book.

Carlene Carter

There's something unnatural about losing a sibling when they're young.

Carlene Carter

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

Even city people have ancestors who had their hands in the dirt.

Carlene Carter

I'm a bubbling brew of emotions, but mostly, I'm an optimistic person.

Carlene Carter

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

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

Carlene Carter

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

Carlene Carter

One good thing is I was instilled with really good values. My mom treats everyone the same.

Carlene Carter

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

I've had a few ditty hits.

Carlene Carter

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

My mother has always been open about all kinds of music and entertainment. She wanted us to see that it was not just country music and the Grand Ole Opry.

Carlene Carter

When I'm on stage, I know exactly where I am. It's not an ego thing or anything like that, but I am more in my body and aware of myself and aware of what I'm doing, and I feel more from that, from sharing the music.

Carlene Carter

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.

Carlene Carter