Alison Krauss

I never had any big dreams about doing something on a huge scale.

You know, if you really want to fiddle the old-time way, you've got to learn the dance. The contra-dances, hoedowns. It's all in the rhythm of the bow. The great North Carolina fiddle player Tommy Jarrell said, 'If a feller can't bow, he'll never make a fiddler. He might make a violin player, but he'll never make no fiddler.'

I grew up in a school that had a big music program, and it was incredible. It's what I looked forward to during the day. I had chorus, strings, band.

I love hard singing.

People are always very nice.

Growing up, we had folk records.

I love being in the world of the unknown.

I still think of myself as from Illinois.

There are so many great songs yet to sing.

The grand old lady of bluegrass? Well, wouldn't that be a wonderful title to have? I hope I do enough to earn it some day.

My parents made us do everything, try everything.

I started with the classical violin when I was 6, and I guess it went well.

I find the songs I want to record by listening to as much music as I can. 'When I hear things I really like, I ask the writers to send me a tape of everything they've ever written.

I think that people respond to honesty in music, so I only choose songs that are the truth for me.

Whenever I've chosen a song because it's clever, it's always turned out to be a mistake.

I think you translate emotion better when you take your hands off.

Some things feel really good to sing: there's a physical aspect, but there's more to it - a deeper place you go to.

Being in the studio is a really romantic time.

Lyrics are kind of the whole thing; it's the message. Something might have a beautiful melody but if it's not the truth coming out of your mouth, it's not appealing.

I don't look for bliss, just contentment.

You say it best, when you say nothing at all.

Oh Mr. Webster could never define what's being said between your heart and mine.

That's what I love. Not being interrupted, sitting in a car by myself and listening to music in the rain. There are so many great songs yet to sing.

I don't know if bliss is possible and I've always thought that my best times will be later in life.

It's impossible to make a record when you're ill because it affects how you listen to things. You can't make decisions. It all sounds terrible.