Believe me, I love commerce as much as the rest of the readers of 'Businessweek.' But in art, you have to be true to yourself and your musical vision. People have known me well for a long time, so if I was chasing a trend and doing something that wasn't authentic to who I am, they would know it in just a few seconds.

I just had to find all my friends that used to be in the business. As I say, the music business didn't die, it just moved to Nashville.

People have allowed me into their homes, through my words and my music.

I grew up with the Grand Ole Opry, Dottie West, Conway Twitty, Buck Owens... not realizing it was influencing me as much as it was.

By growing up in Alabama, I had a melting pot of the whole pie: R&B, gospel, country.

Traveling did a great deal to me. I found that when I travel and just sit in the corner and watch, a million ideas come to me.

I'm easy like Sunday Morning.