That's what I love about Nashville and the music community - seeing kids around acoustic music and bluegrass picking parties is the best.

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.

I mean, the last thing I want to do is be involved in politics.

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.

Country music has always been the best shrink that 15 bucks can buy.

As a songwriter, you might write every day and throughout the course of a year you might get four songs that are really special.

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.