I had 12 years of classical music as a child, playing piano competitions as a teenager, playing in blues bands and rock 'n' roll bands, country and jazz bands. I played in about any situation.

Work for the fun of it, and the money will arrive some day.

They say love will find a way. I know determination will.

This business is always changing. If you're going to be a leader, you've got to take chances.

Now is now, and I live everything one day at a time. The fact that I'm still on the planet and able to still make music is such a miracle.

I am a Christian. I know I am a Christian, knowing that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.

Music is not just my passion it's my companion.

You can walk out on me tonight, if you think that it ain't feeling right, but darling, there's no getting over me.

I feel this is a family here, so kinda regardless of whatever happens in your life, you always can come home to the Grand Ole Opry, thank God.

I learned when I started to study piano that I could play by ear. I could hear a song on the radio a couple of times and hear the song and the lyrics and sing it for you after a couple of plays.

The last time I saw Elvis was when I played my second New Years Eve show for him in 1970.

Selfish, adj. Devoid of consideration for the selfishness of others.

I'm right and wrong, moral and immoral, good and bad, a hero and a villain, and I've been just as capable of truth as I have been lies.

I find it really disappointing and cheap when someone's copied the whole drum sound from a record.

Politicians fascinate because they constitute such a paradox; they are an elite that accomplishes mediocrity for the public good.

I thought perhaps people with injuries could be subject to a starters gun to cure them.

Contemporary society has become dry, not for lack of wonders but for lack of wonder.

Without passion, men are not willing to pay any price or bear any burden to set the captives free.

if some folks have buried their racial prejudices, the chances are that they've got the graves marked and will have no trouble disinterring their pet hates.

My countrymen have the right to shake my hand and talk to me if they so wish. Don't forget that their support and their reading of my works is what brought me the Nobel prize.

It distresses us to return work which is not perfect.