I've always been a rule-follower. Even when I was a kid, I tried to do everything by the book.

Country music is just country. It's going to shift around a little bit, doing some different instrumentations, different production styles. But it will always come back to what you heard at the Opry. Nobody wants it to change.

I enjoy being on stage with other artists. I have a chance to watch and see people responding to the other artists songs. I get to see how people are affected by the music.

Success breeds volume, and it's just amazing how many young writers, artists, and musicians there are in town.

Counterpoint is difficult. I have been doing it since the beginning of my career. But it is not just taking any opposite. It is finding the right opposite.

I went from an innocent child to a national television star. My career took on a life of its own.

A footballer's career is very short, and I want to finish it in a strong and spectacular way.

By the way, conversely, one thing I've learned in my career, beginning when I ran for mayor, is that a lot of older voters are among the most excited about a younger candidate. So, you know, I think somebody of any age can deliver a compelling message.