I'm one of those people who just doesn't plan my personal life. I plan my professional life.

I think that we have a unique opportunity as performers and artists to be kind of the town criers and also to get more people to listen, so that's a blessing and a responsibility that I take very seriously.

There are so many people out there working with great grassroots and global and national organizations that are unsung heroes to me.

Elvis might have compromised his musical style a bit towards the end, but that doesn't mean that artists from the rock n' roll/folk-roots culture - of which he was not really a part - shouldn't get better as they get older, like the great jazz or blues artists.

In blues, classical and jazz, you get more revered with age.

People come up to me all the time who saw Dad in 'Oklahoma!' or 'Pajama Game,' and they say they'll never forget it.

I hope I'm an integrous person who cleans up their messes when I've been a jerk.