Texas people are really strong in their roots. I started writing and playing guitar at 17. I've always loved music, and my dad is a singer-songwriter.

I literally wouldn't have dreamed of it in a million years that I'm going to be standing there with George (Strait) and Garth and Kenny (Chesney) and Reba (McEntire) and Brooks & Dunn. I don't really have any clue what I'm actually doing with those people because I feel like I'm still just getting started and I've seen them all in concert and they're all my heroes.

There's been a shift: Country music is popular music now. Every other genre wants to come over to our land.

Miranda Lambert! She not only has amazing music, but she is an awesome role model for females and rescues lots of animals!

I'm an outdoors girl - I like to go fishing, riding four-wheelers, hunting.

I really think that being yourself, being original, being outside the box is starting to be appealing to people.

For each album, I let the music that I love at that point in my life be my guide.