Kathy Mattea Quotes

Powerful Kathy Mattea for Daily Growth

About Kathy Mattea

Kathy Mattea, born Catherine Kathleen Mattea on June 16, 1966, in South Charleston, West Virginia, is a celebrated American country music singer-songwriter. Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains, her love for music was fostered from an early age as she sang in church and learned to play the guitar. Mattea moved to Nashville at the age of 21 to pursue her musical dreams. Her breakthrough came with the release of her debut album, "Kathy Mattea" in 1986, which included her first Top 10 hit, "Lonesome Standard Time." The album showcased her unique voice and traditional country style, earning her a devoted fanbase and critical acclaim. In the following years, Mattea continued to release successful albums such as "Untasted Honey" (1987), "Walk the Way the Wind Blows" (1988), and "Willow in the Wind" (1991). These albums produced several hit singles, including "Goin' Gone," "Come From the Heart," and her signature song, "455 Rocket." Mattea's career took an innovative turn with the release of "Coal" in 1997. The album showcased her appreciation for her Appalachian roots and explored themes of coal mining, environmentalism, and her family history. The title track won Mattea a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1998. Throughout her career, Mattea has been recognized with numerous awards, including four Grammy Awards, six Country Music Association Awards, and an Academy of Country Music Award. She is known for her powerful voice, traditional country style, and commitment to social issues, particularly those affecting Appalachia. Today, Kathy Mattea continues to perform and record music, maintaining a connection with her roots while exploring new creative avenues. Her influence on country music and her dedication to preserving the traditions of her region make her an enduring figure in the genre.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I believe that there is a music in everything, and that's what I try to capture."

Kathy Mattea's quote suggests that she perceives music as an inherent element in life itself, not just something created by musicians or instruments. Her artistic pursuit is to bring out and capture this music that exists within various aspects of existence. This perspective imbues her work with a profound sense of connection between the world, its sounds, and the beauty of music she creates.


"You have to sing from your soul."

Kathy Mattea's quote, "You have to sing from your soul," implies that authenticity and emotional depth are essential when expressing oneself through music. It suggests that the most moving performances arise not just from technical skill but also from a deep personal connection to the lyrics and melody. In essence, she emphasizes the importance of letting one's genuine emotions guide their artistic expression.


"Music has a way of touching our hearts and helping us heal."

This quote by Kathy Mattea emphasizes that music possesses a unique ability to connect with our emotions, serving as a conduit for healing. Whether it's a soothing melody or an uplifting rhythm, music has the power to tap into our feelings and provide solace when we need it most. In essence, it is a powerful tool in the journey towards emotional well-being and recovery.


"I think the biggest thing for me has been learning to trust my instincts as an artist."

This quote by Kathy Mattea highlights her personal journey towards artistic self-confidence. She emphasizes that the most significant aspect of her career growth was acquiring the ability to trust her own intuition and creative judgement. Essentially, she is saying that listening to one's inner voice and following their instincts is crucial in developing as an artist, allowing for authenticity and individuality in artistic expression.


"When I'm on stage, I feel alive and connected in a way that I don't often experience in my everyday life."

This quote suggests that for Kathy Mattea, performing on stage represents an intense and unique connection with herself and others. It's a moment where she experiences vitality beyond her daily life, highlighting the transformative power of music and performance in fostering profound emotional engagement.


I've come to understand my role. On some level, I provide the context for them to shine. I also know my role is the steward of the songs, and the center point, the artist that the stuff all revolves around. But I really try to honor that.

- Kathy Mattea

Artist, Some, Role, Steward

I really think that's what music and art is about. It's another way to connect to the divine. It's a real pure way of touching that deeper reality beneath our life.

- Kathy Mattea

Art, Think, Beneath, Another Way

I would step into a place of being lined up with a sense of purpose and my inner compass, and everything was going in the same direction. Then I'd get lazy and get off the track. And then things would start to fall apart, and I'd back up and get it together again.

- Kathy Mattea

Purpose, Lazy, Back, Lined

And in fact, I think the more we start to worship perfection the more soul leaks out of art.

- Kathy Mattea

Art, Think, I Think, Perfection

So I had to just kind of go back to the hotel, take a shower, sit quiet, dig down deep, warm up, and allow myself to move into some kind of zone. And then I remembered that a lot of my favorite musical moments are not about perfection.

- Kathy Mattea

Shower, Some, Allow, Perfection

Can you blame them? We have to filter so much information these days. But it does make it difficult for an artist. I'm 46 years old now. I've had a lot of life experience and my voice has changed. People who expect the same old me are bound to be disappointed.

- Kathy Mattea

Voice, Artist, Had, Filter

Chocolate's okay, but I prefer a really intense fruit taste. You know when a peach is absolutely perfect... it's sublime. I'd like to capture that and then use it in a dessert.

- Kathy Mattea

Perfect, Okay, Prefer, Dessert

I don't live in as much fear as I used to. I'm not afraid of the music business. Life is too damn short. I know what's important, and the tasks are very clear.

- Kathy Mattea

Business, Clear, Very, Tasks

What is hard to remember when you're in the middle of it is that when you get through to the other side, you always walk away with a gift. If you can stand in there and not walk away from it, you get transformed by it.

- Kathy Mattea

Gift, Through, Always, Transformed

A gourmet meal without a glass of wine just seems tragic to me somehow.

- Kathy Mattea

Glass, Meal, Gourmet, Wine

You have to write badly to write at all. If it's crappy, I will rewrite it later. But it will be mine. You can hear the resonance of an artist who goes into herself.

- Kathy Mattea

Badly, Mine, Crappy, Rewrite

When you keep the caliber of musicians very high in the band, people are going to come and go. Some of them will be people who have to try various things, it's natural.

- Kathy Mattea

Natural, Some, Very, Caliber

We rob ourselves of so much by focusing on the wrong stuff. And the ability to get into the moment and deal with what is, that's the real opportunity.

- Kathy Mattea

Opportunity, Deal, Rob, Focusing

Or if I have my head in the results, I can't work with what I have, because I'm trying to force something to happen. And with singing, any time you force it, you tighten up. If you tighten up, you're screwed, nothing will work.

- Kathy Mattea

Singing, Happen, Screwed, Tighten

Anyway, our family went into complete crisis mode. I have two older brothers, and we rallied as a family.

- Kathy Mattea

Crisis, Brothers, Our, Complete

That's the great paradox of living on this earth, that in the midst of great pain you can have great joy as well. If we didn't have those things we'd just be numb.

- Kathy Mattea

Great, Pain, Living, Numb

I jump into the process, and the record begins to gel at some point. Then I begin to get a picture of where I'm going. But it's not always something I know on the front-end.

- Kathy Mattea

Process, Some, Always, Jump

I guess the biggest thing is that I committed to a spiritual center before I do anything else. And I put some daily things in my life into practice and I maintain that, to make sure that I don't drop the ball.

- Kathy Mattea

My Life, Drop, Some, Biggest Thing

Your voice is vibrant for only a certain part of your life. There are some records I've always wanted to make, and I don't know if I want to waste this time beating on the door of the charts.

- Kathy Mattea

Voice, Door, Some, Beating

There's nothing more fun than sitting in a circle playing with people who are really into it.

- Kathy Mattea

People, Nothing, More, Circle

You find yourself in this place where you really get to find out what you're made of, and what I found was that when I was at my time of greatest need, there were people who appeared in my life, and helped me through it.

- Kathy Mattea

Life, My Life, Through, My Time

So all of these things are going on that make you wake up and realize you are a mortal person. You can choose to cruise through your life, but if you do, you're going to open your eyes at some point, and it's gone.

- Kathy Mattea

Wake Up, Through, Some, Open Your Eyes

You know, your speaking voice comes back, but your singing voice you use in a different way.

- Kathy Mattea

Voice, Singing, Use, Different Way

So I really did stop and change what I saw I was about, and really try to put that principle into play as the center of everything - my friendships, my marriage, my career, my family, my way of being in the world. And that changed everything for me.

- Kathy Mattea

Play, Career, Principle, Friendships

You have to listen to what resonates within your own gut. You find your direction there. Your voice comes out.

- Kathy Mattea

Voice, Within, Resonates, Direction

Whenever someone leaves, the next person that gets pulled in is somebody with similar values.

- Kathy Mattea

Next, Similar, Whenever, Leaves

I can't even say I've begun yet, but I'm trying on the idea that there is a book in my future.

- Kathy Mattea

Book, Say, Idea, Begun

If you say that you're all about a certain something, and look back and see that the choices that you've made don't reflect that, then there's something for you to look at.

- Kathy Mattea

Back, Made, About, Reflect

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.