Anne Murray
I did go to university and I did teach school for a year.
When I decided to retire I thought I should align myself with a charity that can use my high profile.
When I was a kid, it was just a wild dream to think that I would've had a career like this, and I really didn't think that was possible. But things just kind of started to roll, and I was caught up in it, and I went with it.
A lot of people want to put you in a slot. They want to categorize you. So I fought that, because I liked all different kinds of music.
Whether or not I considered myself a country singer, when I sang a country song, I was as good as anybody.
When I was going through all the divorce things, that was really hard to discuss, because nobody wants to talk about their failures. Nobody wants to talk about how painful those kinds of things are.
I don't sing songs on albums that I don't like.
I have been told that my voice is very suited to oldies albums.
I'm called Anne because my mother, who was devout, prayed to St. Anne every day of her pregnancy with me.
I hated L.A., so spread out, so phony. It's like Vegas. It isn't real.
I had to sing. I couldn't not sing. If it was singing to a living room full of people or an auditorium, it didn't matter. I had to sing. I was meant to sing.
When I sing a pop song, I'm a pop singer. When I sing a country song, I'm a country singer. I've been very lucky to cross over, because by doing that, you can't be pigeonholed.
I was a real work-horse.
With my kids I just missed so many things, and that's a regret I have.
I devoured everything on the radio, I felt like I knew music.
I don't call myself any kind of singer. I leave that to other people because there are plenty out there who're quick to do that.
Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year.
Growing up, I heard nothing but the best music.
My parents were into The Mills Brothers, Perry Como, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Sarah Vaughn, and all those people sung the most wonderful songs - and even when I got into rock 'n' roll, that stayed with me.
I want to build a house in Indian Harbour, that's all.
I don't want to look out and perform in front of people who are drunk. I did that when I was playing little clubs.
But I'm a real Gemini; I'm completely different at home than when I'm on tour.
You have to be real sharp when you're touring. I'm dull normal at home. So when I come off the road, my kids have to put up with Mom making cracks every five minutes for a couple of days.
I remember when I was doing my first Christmas album, I thought, 'Wouldn't it be nice to find new Christmas songs?' Then I went, 'Are you crazy?' When I decorate my tree I don't want new Christmas songs, I want to hear all the familiar songs!
Wind turbines are imposing structures and definitely not the kind of thing one wants to see from a golf course.
Turbines are a curiosity, but only once.
People are going to a place like Pugwash and that whole area to escape from industry, to have the serenity of the surroundings and the beauty.
Once, I was up north with friends and, after dinner, one lady who was at the table said, 'Would you sing for me?' and I went 'Well, sure.' And the other women are looking and going, 'You never sing for us.' Well, you never ask me.
It is important what you look like, period. So, I grew up and realized, 'Just put on the shoes and wear some nice clothes and forget about it and try to sing well.'
Canadian tours are big and difficult, because of the large spaces between cities.
You know what I find truly amazing? I haven't had a hit record since the mid-'80s, and still people show up to pack up the places I'm playing.
There's an age group that's just not being entertained - the boomers. There's a void out there. It's nice to be one of those who can fill that void.
I do duets with folks like Randy Goodman, Aaron Neville, Bryan Adams, people like that.
It was nice to be home for a change. Nice to be with my husband. Nice to be with the kids. But it's also nice to be touring again.
I don't get played on radio anymore. Once you're over 40, forget it.
It's hard for performers to grow old gracefully, but I'm trying.
There was a time when I never would have considered, ever, doing television commercials for records. I would never do that. That was something that you did for K-Mart.
People who buy my records don't go into music stores - music stores which are fading before our very eyes.
Nelly Furtado has the right idea in reinventing herself.
I've never been overexposed or in people's faces, although there are some who argue that in the late '70s and early '80s, I was played a lot!
Suddenly, I was in a category with Barbara Striesand, Olivia Newton John, Donna Summer, Carley Simon - it was kind of neat for me.
I was at home, pregnant, and everybody was telling me, 'You're on a roll, don't have another baby, wait a while.' Looking back, I realize my career was peaking when I was having babies, for God's sake!
I've always had good songs, it's the great songs that are difficult to find.
People want new faces. And I don't blame them. It's just getting difficult for us oldsters to get anyone to take notice.
I've been playing Sunrise for years. I love it there. It's so loosey-goosey. I was up at the Kravis Center and it was, like, 'Oh my God!' All the minkdraggers, you know?
There's nothing I hate more than having to cancel shows. In 36 years of performing, I think I've only canceled six times.
There's no formula for choosing songs. I've beeen lucky over the years. You just hear it and you do it.
I like to stay active.
'That's Not The Way It's Supposed To Be' was a good video, but it didn't do anything.