Whether it is successful or not is not the exercise for me. It is not up to me. It is out of my hands now. I am not going to in two years have hindsight and say I made a big mistake.

I am responsible for me. I can kind of take care of what I need to do and should do what I like to do.

This is just strictly me wanting to make a record that is the real deal. It is all the stuff that I have learned and know that I remember. It's what I perceive as country music is about.

Success is always temporary. When all is said and one, the only thing you'll have left is your character.

My last two records that I made were both quite pointed in one direction and I think I do my best stuff when it's all over the map, when there's a couple traditional things, a couple pretty rocking things.

Music is like having a conversation. All musicians inspire each other, and they're all geared to play something that matters.

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.