I grew up going to a real small missionary baptist church. We would sing a lot of the old standards... the hymns and everything. Those songs are still my favorite and are pretty timeless.

I don't feel like God called me to be a Gospel singer. He didn't call me to be a Christian singer, he called me to be a country singer, and I just happen to be a Christian.

Look to the Heavens, you can look to the skies. You can find redemption staring back into your eyes.

I grew up like a lot of country boys and girls do - amongst the pine trees, dirt roads, farms, mules and people who were real.

I'm normally the guy that stands off in the corner.

Singing allowed me to express myself in ways that I wouldn't be able to do otherwise.

I've found throughout the years that I needed a place where I can go with no TV, no computer, no phone and just have no distractions and just be able to sit and think and just not be disturbed.

It's hard sometimes to capture magic when it comes to live records.

'Firecracker' was such a fun song to write and to perform.

I've never had the patience of a teacher.

I like to fish when it's not too hot.

Inhale courage, exhale fear.

Perfection exists only in your own mind. What you find to be perfect, is not necessarily perfect for someone else.

Jealousy is the tribute which mediocrity pays to genius.

As I look around the West End these days, it seems to me that outside every thin girl is a fat man, trying to get in.

When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, 'Repent,' he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.

Keep thinking, keep interested, keep praying, keep dreaming. Be mentally sensitive at all times so that the magic word that motivates you may one day speak to your deep inner self.

You can't write something to please someone.

It's nice to have been around long enough to be a part of people's lives. A lot of people who come to my show are real nostalgic for the '80s.

Music is my shining light, my favorite thing in the world. T get me to stop doing it for one second would be difficult!

If Star Wars had failed, you wouldn't have 90 percent of what's out there today.