I just wanted to go out and make a record that Ive always wanted to make since I was a kid..

I expect to make a career out of country music..

I'm a kid who grew up in an all African-American neighborhood and got into schools and aspired to just be me, and didn't worry about labels or anythi….

I think people who go out and tell you how much they're gonna change things are the people who end up being just another whatever. I'm never trying t….

I have major respect for Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood and Sugarland. They are wonderful. They're superstars in the music business..

Ray Charles has always been a big part of my life..

When I was asked if I wanted to perform on the Grand Ole Opry, I yelled, 'Are you kidding me?' I've been waiting for that my whole life. To be invite….

It was important to me to find a label that wouldn't back out after a first single. Everyone's so used to hearing me with Hootie, they're going to be….

When I was in high school, I read all of Neil Simon's plays..

Remember the Stax label and how if you liked one record, you liked all the others as well? You don't talk to a lot of people who tell you how much th….

I'm lucky my wife is a strong woman. She's one of the stronger people I've ever met. It's hard for me to be away, but I know my home life is fine bec….

Whether it is a call to action for blood drives, disaster relief, or just community outreach, the American Red Cross does an extraordinary job at not….

I don't think I get the respect as a singer. With this record, I wanted to bring respect to my band..

My family lives a pretty normal life..

One of the things that I'm dying to do is to sing the hook on a big rap song. No one's ever called me to do that..

You gotta love and learn and learn to live..

You gotta laugh and love and take all life has to give. You gotta live and learn so you can learn to live..

Find something that makes you want to give and give and give 'til it hurts..

All the doors that I had to close. All the things I knew but I didn't know. Thank God for all I missed. 'Cause it led me here to this..

I work hard to let my wife know how much I love her. I try to do that every day..

When somebody says to you the real USC is in L.A., tell them we were a school before they were a state..