When Ray Flacke came out, it was like 'What in the heck is this?' ... there's a guy who had that Tele players attitude, and he plugged straight into that amp with a delay, and it was unbelievable the way he would bend those big strings ... he was really unique.

I go to eat dinner with my folks when I'm home. I think that's the trick.

Country music has become the music that best represents the reality of American life.

I'm aware of the fact that a lot of talented people out there will never get this chance.

... there are a lot of shredders in country music - Redd Volkaert, Brent Mason, Dan Huff .. and guys like that

Someday I'm gonna be famous. Do I have talent, well, no. These days you really don't need it.

The nice thing about the world that I've been able to inhabit for the last couple of years is that I'm given a lot of freedom. Not all artists really get that.