There's a great enthusiasm for good country music all over the world.

A lot of country music is sad.

I never gave up on country music because I knew what I was doing was not that bad.

I love country music blues and punk and one day I might make those kinds of records.

I've seen country music go uptown like we say and I'm proud I was there when it happened.

What we don't need in country music is divisiveness public criticism of each other and some arbitrary judgement of what belongs and what doesn't.

What is music. A passion for colonies not a love of country.

Country fans need to support country music by buying albums and concert tickets for traditional artists or the music will just fade away. And that would be really sad.

I would say that although my music may be or may have been part of the cultural background fabric of the gay community I consider myself an outsider who belongs everywhere and nowhere... Being a human being is what truly counts. That's where you'll find me.

I think I first realized I wanted to be in country music and be an artist when I was 10. And I started dragging my parents to festivals and fairs and karaoke contests and I did that for about a year before I came to Nashville for the first time. I was 11 and I had this demo CD of me singing Dixie Chicks and Leanne Rimes songs.