What qualifies me to tell people how to act or what to think? I'm Charley Pride, country singer. Period.

I believe it is possible to tell what sign some people were born under by watching their eyes, watching how they walk, how they talk.

Mother was a talkative person, and I was a lot like her.

I might have become a minor celebrity but royalty checks were a long way off.

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.

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

I'm not James Brown. I'm not Sam Cooke. I'm Charley Pride. I'm just me and that's what you got.