"I grew up with all kinds ofmusic, but my heart was particularly drawn to Country Music because of the guitar playing, the lyrics and of artists like Steve Warner and Vince Gill."

"It's almost scary how good things are right now. I've been engaged now for about a year, and it's the first time anything like that has happened to me."

"Both of my parents were musicians."

"I've never really been a traditional country kind of guy. I wanted my music to sound more like the end of the '90s and to have the kind of great music, pop or whatever, that radio will embrace."

"I think some people record songs and make records a certain way to cater to radio. If you're born to make commercial music that's cool. But if you're born to not make commercial records, maybe you're meant to cater to another market."

"I've always wanted to be a real universal artist, one that every type of audience could relate to."

"There are many people that struggle and struggle and have all the talent in the world, but for some reason they are not successful. You never know why those things happen."

"Country Music is great music because it really comes from real life experiences. It is such a great haven for reality."

"I remember my mom dressed like Janis Joplin."

"One time when somebody showed up in a wedding dress, but I never knew if it was a joke, or she was serious. She asked me to marry her. She was serious. It was pretty funny."

"We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public."

"If I ever did cross over I would like to do it tactfully. I don't want to offend anyone in country. Can you have the best of both worlds? I sure like the idea of it!"

"I want people to hear the presence of God in the music."

"Christmas makes me happy no matter what time of year it comes around."

"I'm an entertainer. If people are paying good money for tickets they deserve the best show they can see. I don't get into lighting stuff on fire, but I do believe in going the extra mile."

"There are peaks and valleys in anything and that is especially true for the music business. It is very inconsistent. But if you are wise, you can let those downs really bring you to another level of your personality."

"Nat King Cole was a really big influence."

"What is nice about country music today is that most artists are not trying to do something everybody else is doing. They really are trying to develop their own uniqueness."