Soul is a feeling, not a color.

I just like people. I'll hold a conversation at a gas station. It's not about the fame and the fortune, I just like people.

Forget about 40 years in show business. Just surviving 27 years of Nicole Richie is enough.

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

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.

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.