I was trying to learn how to deal with the freedom that I had away from home for the first time. 'Long Black Train,' the song and the album, are very special to me. It was just one of those things that I felt like God gave to me for a purpose, and I've been out here promoting that purpose.

What I did to celebrate was I went home to my 535-square-foot apartment by myself and ate supper by myself. That was how I celebrated getting a record deal.

I play basketball all the time. Me and my band play every week on the road. That's something that I've never really given up since high school.

I love Tennessee, but they don't have the pine trees and the sandy soil and the black water that I grew up around.

I've never had the patience of a teacher.

A No. 1 record is hard to come by.

I came from a rural background, and I didn't come in contact with a lot of wealthy people.