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.

It really does take a lot of time to make records, to be in the studio and do all that stuff.

With The Key, it was, I had gone through a divorce and losing my father, and just kinda really reminiscing about how much I loved the traditional side of country music, so I made a record that was really traditional from start to finish.

I am not struggling. What I do, it is what I do.

Even when I'm touring, I feel like a sideman ... everybody's working together. We get to play longer solos; it's not just "Here's the record! Thank you for coming Goodnight" ... it has always had a "band" feel instead of being a singer and his backup band.

It's so much more interesting when you're human. I hate making mistakes, but I'm not afraid of 'em.

The real beauty of it - key to my life was playing key chords on a banjo. For somebody else it may be a golf club that mom and dad put in their hands or a baseball or ballet lessons. Real gift to give to me and put it in writing.