When you ask a songwriter, "What's your favorite song?" he goes, "The next one."

I'm a musician, so for the most part I've always thought that the musicians were equally as inspiring to listen to - maybe more so, in some cases - in addition to the artists.

Whether I'm making my own record, or playing a guitar part, I want what I do to have an impact.

I've always felt like every note of a song is of equal value.

It is not that I don't like contemporary country music because I do. I love it. I have recorded a lot and have had great success recording records that have not been very traditional country records.

I made records in the past that are as traditional as any other country records that have been made, but at the same time the records have a contemporary slant on it too.

The real amazing thing about all of this is I think I've maintained the mentality of a musician throughout it all, which I'm proudest of. And I'm still playing on people's records and singing on people's records.