I don't know if Nashville will ever be ousted as the Music City. But I also think that here, over the last few years, Georgia has definitely kind of risen to the top as far as the crop of young artists coming out of this area that are kind of making waves, you know?

I know I'm not gonna please everybody when I make a record. I don't let that affect any of my decisions.

My dad encouraged anything I wanted to do, especially music. Actually he drove me around to places where I could play.

You have record companies that sign acts that they think are great, and then they never do anything. Acts that they don't think are really going to do much end up having a career. I don't think anyone really knows what it is that drives somebody to get on their computer and want to download a song.

Records are one thing, and obviously, without hit songs, you don't have the opportunity to do your shows. But my live show has always been my selling tool.

Country music artists are staying true to their roots, keeping it country but throwing a little bit of rock flair in there which I think is a good thing.

Hearing people clapping draws you in pretty quick. It's like bungee cord jumping - it's a rush; you just want to do it again.