MARTINA MCBRIDE

I have a really amazing fan club, it's contemporary but it's a little bit old school. There's a lot of connection. I have a fan club president who really responds to people.

My dad was a huge country music fan, but he also had a band and he sang. So he'd listen to a lot of music and the songs that he'd learn for the band were more from the male artists. So my earliest country memories were Waylon Jennings, Conway Twitty, George Jones, Johnny Paycheck even.

I like the creativity of planning a party, or cooking and taking care of people, creating a memorable meal or event.

I really just tried to make a record full of great songs, which is the goal I always have.

I wanted to make a record that people could put on year after year after year, and it would never feel dated.

Faith that it's not always in your hands or things don't always go the way you planned, but you have to have faith that there is a plan for you, and you must follow your heart and believe in yourself no matter what.

That's the hardest thing about being a mom. You want to be cool, and you want them to like you all the time, but you can't always have that. You're gonna have times where you have to say no, and you won't be the most popular person in the house.

You either have fans who stick with you, or they don't. It comes down to making music that people connect with and great fans.

I have been fighting writing songs for a long time. People keep telling me I should write, and other writers have offered to write with me, and to be honest, it's not something I've ever really had a passion for - plus I wasn't sure I had the talent to do it!

Not only do I know how to milk a cow, but I know how to herd a bunch of cows, too, which is a life skill that I think may come in handy someday.

I wish I could do an entire spa day.

I love to read about healthy eating and preach to my husband, who doesn't listen. Now I'm trying to teach it to my daughters.

The way you look is so dependent on the way you take care of yourself.

I do yoga, lunges, crunches, things like that for 40 minutes twice a week. For cardio I usually do the elliptical, treadmill or walking.

Raising three girls, I think it's important to teach them to support other women.

I always have apples and fruit in the house. It's easier to eat something healthy if it's within reach. I also have yogurt, cheese and crackers, and raw almonds.

I think that being thrown into instant fame must be, at times, difficult.

I love to get books, because I love to read.

It's always nice to be thought of.

I just love where I am right now in my career.

I find that putting my make-up on and playing with different looks is really relaxing for me before the show. It kind of helps me make that transition from 'mommy' to 'performer,' or star or whatever you want to call it!

I don't really have any kind of rigorous or definite routine before I go onstage. I like to eat at least an hour or two before I go on. If I can't do that, I just wait until after. I try and drink lots of water before I go onstage.

It's hard to say no to your kid. It's hard for them to stomp off and not be happy with you for an hour.

I definitely feel a difference about my place in the industry. I feel like I have some longevity now.

I'm not fond of crunches or lunges, but I do them anyway because I do see results. For me it's about being fit and staying healthy more than anything else.