To me, songwriting is the backbone of Nashville. Looks can go, fads can go, but a good song lasts forever.

I've always stood up for country music.

I'm hooked on my baby's love, there ain't nothing in the jug this strong.

When I was in high school, I don't know that I really had big dreams.

My mother kept asking me, "When are you going to do a gospel album?" And I've always wanted to do a gospel album. Everybody was going on about it, so mom started hounding me more.

I grew up with nothing, so whenever I got to where I could have something I felt like I needed to have everything I couldn't have when I was young.

What I enjoy doing more than anything is, I have my little antique car collection, and when the weather is pretty I like to get out one of my old cars. I have a little route I run down in the country, down Nachez Trace Parkway. The loop down through there is just really relaxing, not much traffic.