On her brand-new album Carter Girl, which hit stores this week, third-generation Carter Family member Carlene Carter pays tribute to that legacy. Her album includes classics that were recorded by the original Carter Family (A.P., Sara and Maybelle Carter), some well known and others less so; in addition, the album features songs written by Carlene, her mother June Carter Cash and her aunt Helen Carter.

"In all the musical paths I've followed, I've always tried to include something of the Carter Family," Carlene Carter told Radio.com. "Whether it was a song collected by A.P., or one that my mother or grandmother wrote. It was always instilled in me from a very young age, that I would carry on the music of the Carter Family and keep it alive."

"Now that it's been 11 years since my mother passed away, I felt it was time to do my tribute to the music."

In our in-depth interview, Carlene told stories behind some of the album's stand-out tracks, such as original Carter Family classics "Gold Watch and Chain" and "Black Jack David" (which features Kris Kristofferson as guest vocalist), June's song "Tall Lover Man" and Carlene's composition "Lonesome Valley 2003."

The latter song is a powerful piece that captures the pain of losing her mother June and her mother's husband Johnny Cash in the same year.