I never pretended to have a great voice. It works and I can carry a tune. If you have a good song, that's about all that's required.

(Songwriting) It's a gift. It all comes from somewhere. I started out really young, when I was four, five, six, writing poems, before I could play an instrument. I was writing about things when I was eight or 10 years old that I hadn't lived long enough to experience.

I would like to see more airplay for all artists, no matter what age. I think there's a lot of money being spent toward the young guys, but a lot of the older guys are the ones who blazed the trail for those young guys.

Just take what you need from the ladies and leave them.

I never pretended to have a great voice. It works and I can carry a tune. If you have a good song, that's about all that's required.

I learned some invaluable lessons in Nashville that apply to both farming and show business: Do not corner something you know is meaner than you; keep skunks of all kinds at a distance; if you forgive your enemies, it messes up their heads.

You don't have to be poor to need something or somebody.