I think topical songwriting is a real gift, and it's hard not to be pedantic and show up with the sledgehammer message.

The bedrock thing of country music is, it's about storytelling. I feel like I was able to find a niche because I connected to that in some way.

The joy of being in the studio is having people being utterly free to throw out their ideas.

Emmy Lou Harris introduced me to the work of the Vietnam Veterans of America foundation and the Campaign for a Land Mine Free World.

It's a marvelous feeling when someone says I want to do this song of yours because they've connected to it. That's what I'm after.

I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I want to try it again and again, and a lot of times my fellow musicians have to hold me back and say, "Nah, I think we got it."

As far as feeling freedom in my career now versus five years ago... I think if I feel any more free it's simply because of the experiences that I've had, and the wisdom I've accumulated from that time.