My mom taught me a lot. A lot about minding your own business and leaving other people's business alone. And let them think what they want.

Music to me is like breathing. I don't get tired of breathing, I don't get tired of music.

My music had roots which I'd dug up from my own childhood, musical roots buried in the darkest soil.

The words to country songs are very earthy like the blues. They're not as dressed up and the people are very honest and say, 'Look, I miss you darlin', so I went out and got drunk in this bar.' That's the way you say it. Where in Tin Pan Alley they would say, 'Oh I missed you darling, so I went to this restaurant and I sat down and had a dinner for one.' That's cleaned up now, you see? But country and blues tells it like it is.

Love is a special word, and I use it only when I mean it. You say the word too much and it becomes cheap.

I never said I was a genius. I never said I was a cornerstone. I've never said I'm a legend in my own time. You never heard me say nothing like that.

I'd like to think that when I sing a song, I can let you know all about the heartbreak, struggle, lies and kicks in the ass I've gotten over the years for being black and everything else, without actually saying a word about it.