Today we've learned to celebrate mediocrity. Back in the day we had creative artists; today we have created artists.

I'm a songwriter, and people will tell you the greatest stories about their lives, whether you want to hear it or not.

Just when I think it couldn't get any bigger, 'Tuskegee' reaches a new level of success.

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

Forget about surviving 40 years in the music business. Just surviving 27 years of Nicole Richie has been a struggle-and-a-half, I want to tell you. I stand here as a survivor, I want you to know, for all the parents out there.

Country is bringing in a little rock element... a little '80s element. Melody is king now. But its just in the music, its not so much in the songwriting, which is still very basic to the storytelling aspect of it.

When your past calls, don't answer. It has nothing new to say.