Life is about holding on and letting go.

It's something I've always loved doing. I'm not one of the artists who comes in and just does my bit. I'm there every second of every day. That's my hands-on situation.

And now you've lost the only thing that ever made you feel alive.

I've never wanted to name an album from a song title if I could avoid it because I like it to be a body of work.

I think it took me a while to convince Nashville that what I do is genuine and my heart's in the right place, and I love country music.

There are certain songs that are sacred. People want to hear them just as they are in their head; they don't want you messing around with them. And then there are some other songs, if they've been around a long time in our set list, that I think we can take some creative liberties with.

If I knew what I was doing, I'd be doing it right now. I would be the best damn poet, silver words out of my mouth. My words might not be magic, but they cut straight to the truth. So if you need a lover and a friend, baby, I'm in.