Tiffany Darwish

I'm not happy being old-school Tiffany.

The writing process really became natural when it was real and from my heart, and I was exposed.

I came to Nashville in the early '90s, and I thought, 'OK, enough is enough. I write songs; I just don't have the backbone to show it to anybody. I want to go to Nashville and learn how to properly write a song.'

I've always loved country music.

I'm a big Miley Cyrus fan. I think she's really awesome.

Some young stars go a little too far too soon.

I think before, in the '80s, it was more about fashion and music videos and a lot of radio: getting out there and the fans learning who you were and your music.

It was one of the things that used to be on my rider when I would do my shows. I would always ask for a Klondike bar.

My mum really depended on me. I'm the eldest of three girls, and she had emotional issues.

My family didn't come from fame. No one was musical in my family except for me.

Family is family, but sometimes they do hurt you. They don't mean to, but they can, and sometimes you have to fend for yourself.

When I got my record deal, my mum was still struggling a little bit, so the entertainment industry took advantage of that. My mum needed money, and so she signed a contract.

Life is short. You've got to live your dreams.

Careers will come and go. Talent is always there.

With 'A Million Miles,' I still was proving myself as a writer and as a vocalist. It gave me the platform to tour again.

For the kid in me that had a rockier edge and wanted to be Stevie Nicks, it's been fulfilling that I've met Dave Navarro and Dave Grohl, these amazing artists that have given encouragement.

I think, with everything in my career, I don't really want to put boundaries on myself.

'Dust Off And Dance,' the album, was really all about me being in England.

I think, probably, being a young artist, there were a lot of things I thought I knew and I wanted to do, and I was like, 'Oh! That's what I want to do.' And then it took me in a different direction with 'I Think We're Alone Now,' and then all of a sudden, I was a pop star.

I'm constantly trying to grow as a musician, so when I listen to different things, I'm like, 'That'd be cool to do something like that,' and I try to keep myself open-minded.

At 9 years old, I did a lot of benefit concerts for my community.

Looking back at old-school pictures, I never had a hair or makeup person. I wasn't required to wear a lot of hair and makeup. I was never really allowed to do that because it was the image.

I've got to overcome that tendency to hide what I write or throw it away.

I'm a real girl. I get it. I gain weight, I lose weight. My styles change.

People do think I was a one-hit wonder, that I'm maybe not the kind of singer that I can really be - that impression is there. I have to work really hard to break down those walls.

I'm not as naive as some people think.

It was kind of like, my worst crime was that I was a pop star.

To just to get up on stage and sing every night at 9 or 10 years old was unbelievable to me. It wasn't that I was getting paid; it was that I was getting paid to do what I like to do.

Being on the road is very inspiring.

It was not appropriate for me to wear anything like a bustier or to be sexy. It was big hair and hoop earrings and jean jackets.

My body - it's become, as I get older... not my friend.

I don't need a security guy pushing my fans around.

I'd still rather be singing on stage than doing anything else.

I like show business - performing. I can't think of anything better.

No, I wasn't really suing my mother. I was just trying to get in control of my finances and my life. My stepfather has only wanted me around for my money, and he threatened to leave my mother if he didn't get the money anymore.

The reality of a long-term career is that there are ups and downs.

What I'm hoping is that people in my age group will grow up with me and keep listening.

I'm real cautious about staying a regular teenager. I've had other friends who hit it big with a record or something, and they changed completely. I don't want that to happen to me.

The first album, I'd had some input, but I was 14 years old then, and I really didn't know what I was talking about.

I am an old soul: I do know so much about music history.

To just be able to sing and show off the chops is kind of why I got into the music industry.

Music should be fun. If it's not fun, then you're going to get burned out; you're not going to give the best show.

There were just a lot of things that happened between my mother and I, and I thought it would be easier if I lived with my grandmother.

I'm thankful for what I've got, but I'm cramming all my money into a trust fund because I don't ever want to look around and wonder where all my money went.

Hopefully, I've established a career, but you can be a big sensation one day, and the next day everyone's going, 'Who? ... Who?'

I wanted to be the country version of Stevie Nicks, but before you knew it, I was heading in a pop direction, touring the world, having No. 1 singles, and loving every minute of it.

I live on eight acres out in the country in Nashville, and it gets creepy and foggy. It's the best atmosphere to write songs.

It's nice to go out to a club and know you can still turn heads.

I've been married most of my life.

If it's going to make you happy, go for it - life is short.