I mean, I am fully aware of my influence and my responsibility to society in general representing the gay community. But in the same time, I don't represent the entire gay community because it's a vast, vast community, as one can imagine.

I like the music. I don't like the business. I get very tired of the travel and moving, constantly moving. But the hour-and-a-half that I'm making music, I'm one of the happiest people on earth.

I'm nearly 50. I'm past being photographed falling out of bars.

Country music was a part of my life. Now it isn't. We had a good relationship, really, but we wanted each other at arm's length. The people in Nashville didn't want to be responsible for my looks or my actions. But they sure did like the listeners I brought.

I never get tired of exploring Americana or country music, and I always have a little bit of a crooner in me that never seems to go away.

I think I have a better sense of my weaknesses - being self-important, selfish and having a big ego probably triggers all the other stuff. I can see myself more clearly.

I don't consider my homosexuality a political thing. I consider it a sexual and spiritual thing. I only started going to political rallies to meet women.