I like to write sad songs. They're much easier to write and you get a lot more emotion into them. But people don't want to hear them as much. And radio definitely doesn't; they want that positive, uptempo thing.

The older you are, I think you realize what you enjoy and what you don't need, what wears you out and what's important.

Growing up in Georgia, I used to think people up north or out west were so different. They're really not. They're just regular people who live in small towns. They grow up and try to raise families and have a job and go to church and play softball. It's that way everywhere.

If you can last until you're 40 years old, hopefully you'll be mature enough to figure out the rest of the years.

I think every album you have, especially if it's done well, you feel like you're competing with yourself.

I mean, my voice has gotten a little deeper sounding as I've gotten older, I think. I noticed that.

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.