The greatest thing the Democrats have ever done for me was to defeat me for the governor of Tennessee.

You've got to capture an audience. You don't go out there and just sing, or just play. If you can't capture an audience, you might as well not be out there.

Television made a lot of difference in country music. It's progress. I believe in progress.

Don't be a blueprint. Be an original.

My health is good; it's my age that's bad.

I've done a whole lot of things. I've had the pleasure of introducing two presidents, several senators and congressmen.

I'm just another Opry entertainer. I'm not the start of the Opry, and I'm not the ending. I'm not the Alpha, and I'm not the Omega. It's been a pleasure taking part in the Opry and country music these many years. I'm part of a big operation.