Music's always been a big part of my life, but it kind of all happened in one big ball of storytelling rather than splitting acting and singing apart.

My family was very encouraging, and both of my grandparents were both beautiful singers. My grandmother was a coloratura soprano, and my grandfather was an Irish tenor in a barbershop quartet.

When people are grieving, it's kind of like a storm, and you need something to grab onto, but often you have to brave it on your own.

I always loved bluegrass, but there was so much I didn't know about American country music in respect to the origins of this country. It was interesting to see the evolution of it.

I was classically trained in operetta from about age 4, I think.

As an actor, I function from a place of compassion and empathy - you have to believe 100 percent what your character is doing, because otherwise it will look like it's not real.

My parents listened to music in our house all the time when we were growing up. It was everything from Dolly Parton to Paul Simon... We packed in everything.

Either you're going to shoot us or you're not. The ball always lands on red or black, never both.

Your actions and approach with what you have, will showcase to others what you would be able to do with more.

Hollywood hasn't aggressively pursued me. Neither have I aggressively pursued Hollywood.

There will have to be times when I'm not conducting because I'm composing. I haven't solved that problem, and perhaps I never will.

The preparation for active rook play entails what is called the opening of lines, which largely depends on pawn play, especially on the proper use of levers.

Don't let your fear grow bigger than your faith.

Our classes were relatively small. Those small classes can feel like family. After a class in French or chemistry or whatever, we'd be talking in the halls about what we just learned.

The philosopher who would fain extinguish his passions resembles the chemist who would like to let his furnace go out.

Extend your mercy towards others, so that there can be no one in need whom you meet without helping. For what hope is there for us if God should withdraw His Mercy from us?

And diff'ring judgments serve but to declare that truth lies somewhere, if we knew but where.