Musicians exist independent of any of the marketing terms or the categorization.

My guitars, Cadillacs, and hillbilly music Is the only thing that keeps me hanging on.

The congregation that I was raised in was one that sang and a non-instrumental fashion. It was all a cappella singing, and so that had a major influence on me.

It's more in retrospect as I've thought about it over the years and look back at what I wrote, how I wrote things - like there's a song that Ralph Stanley later recorded with me that he had guested on my record what was called "Travelers Lantern" that I wrote as basically, you know, a hymn.

I think actors are at the mercy of the opportunities presented to them. So you kind of have to wait for them to choose you. My music is insular - I can choose that.

Ironically, the success I've experienced at country radio has left me ostracized from pop and other formats of radio.

Music's the one thing I try not to analyze. I don't want to destroy the magic that has always been there for me.