“Even though I’m a pop singer, I really have more the life of a country singer.”

I feel like you can be the best role model by being yourself.

You need to be happy with who you are and, whoever that is, let your little light shine.

I was in a very dark place for a long time. It’s just so hard to have normalcy.

Music isn’t just heard, it is felt.

I’m from a small town where everybody always has something to say – you shouldn’t sing secular music, you shouldn’t do this or do that. A ton of “shouldn’ts.”

I’m thankful For the blessing And the lessons that I’ve learned with you By my side

When I’m picking songs for an album I always want a song that I can relate to and that I have experienced. There’s nothing worse than watching an artist try and sell a song that isn’t believable coming from them.

I sound the same regardless if I’m 20 pounds heavier or 20 pounds light, and I think that’s the key thing with my fans and why they continue to be loyal because I’m that type of person.

Everything changes, but beauty remains.

Books have always been important to me – my mom was a first grade teacher, so I grew up reading all the time.

God will never give you anything you can’t handle, so don’t stress.

People like us we gotta stick together Keep your head up nothing lasts forever.

The thing about Christmas is that it almost doesn’t matter what mood you’re in or what kind of a year you’ve had; it’s a fresh start.

I never said I was a ‘good girl.’ I’m not a bad girl. I’m just normal, and that’s what I’m going to be. There’s no bad girl with whips and chains that’s going to come out. I think people like me because I was myself.

Everyone is different: different shapes, sizes, colors, beliefs, personalities, and you have to celebrate those differences.

When people talk about my weight, I’m like, ‘You seem to have a problem with it; I don’t.

I think California has the best energy.

The destiny of the colored American is the destiny of America.

With all its faults, the American political system is the freest and most democratic in the world.

I think the American people should express their preferences, and we’ll accept their choice.

Well for one, the 13th amendment to the constitution of the US which abolished slavery – did not abolish slavery for those convicted of a crime.

One thing we can all do to honour the struggle for racial justice in the US is to interrogate, understand and dismantle the racist structures of our own countries.

It is a moral outrage that the richest family in America pays workers at Walmart starvation wages.

The wise man belongs to all countries, for the home of a great soul is the whole world.