Blackberry Smoke is the real deal!

I think the great country songs mixed with some of that bluegrass instrumentation - and surrounding all that with a little bit of a rock vibe and energy - is the kind of music I make.

I try to make an album that reflects what I love about country music. It's not just all about happy parties all the time. There are some sad songs.

No, as an artist, you have to be free to explore all the corners of your heart. There are no boundaries.

And I'm the biggest country fan there is, but I'm always a little cautious of a slower song or just a song with subject matter.

My dad and grandpa were in the army and as a country singer you're constantly playing at military bases all across the country and meeting soldiers and their families and hearing their stories.

Country music is always changing but the Opry is always there to serve as a lighthouse for what country music really is. The past, present and future is all encompassed by not only the physical structure of the building but also the radio show.