All artists are egotistical maniacs with inferiority complexes.

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 think the whole world is dying to hear someone say, 'I love you.' I think that if I can leave the legacy of love and passion in the world, then I think I've done my job in a world that's getting colder and colder by the day.

When will we ever learn, there's nowhere else we can turn.

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

It's quite interesting that in my growing up I had several influences. We had gospel music on campus. R&B music was, of course, the community, and radio was country music. So I can kind of see where all the influences came from.