I studied and sang lot of jazz when I was growing up. I think that plays a little bit into some of the things I do vocally, notes that I pick in chords.

Some of my favorite records growing up were Christmas albums. The ones I liked best were the albums that you could listen to from start to finish. You could put them on while you're decorating the tree or driving around looking at Christmas lights.

We didn't have a whole lot of cash growing up. My mom was a single parent for a while before my stepdad came into the picture.

I think the biggest way of connecting with people is through your music and kind of saying what you want to say as an artist. And hopefully, you're making something that someone's going to be like, 'This is my favorite song.' That's always your goal, I think, anybody in any genre.

It wasn't a typical 'Let's go play catch in the backyard' sort of father-son relationship. We always went to job sites with him.

I can't disappear. I come from a family of beautiful women, strong women - and 'strong' defined by being themselves.

I love those books like 'Gone with the Wind,' the huge, sweeping family sagas.

Children are very smart, in their own stupid way. A child's brain is like a sponge, and you know how smart sponges are.