What we don't need in country music is divisiveness, public criticism of each other, and some arbitrary judgement of what belongs and what doesn't.

It isn't reasonable to expect that everyone in the world is a country music fan. Not yet, anyway.

After 14 months of military service, I had a wife, a child, half an apartment, no car, and no job.

I try to keep my feet on the ground. Even though I appreciate the fame and adoration, I remember once I used to pick cotton, and I felt like even then I was somebody. I have the same feet, hands and heart like everyone else. I'm just also blessed with a good voice.

I loved Mississippi and do to this day. The rainbows that stretch from horizon to horizon after a summer rain are the most spectacular I have ever seen.

People pay attention to lyrics, and the race matter was delicate.

Early in my career I began receiving letters from a woman in the Midwest who claimed to be my mother.