As corny as it may sound, my true goal was to crack the Americana market.

Most true things are kind of corny, don’t you think? But we make them more sophisticated out of sheer embarrassment.

The market is fast-moving, fast-growing. Things that are true today may not be true tomorrow.

I'm proud to be paying taxes in the United States. The only thing is -- I could be just as proud for half the money.

The biggest deal for me was that all 24 winners are placed on the Billboard CD of the Year, which went out to 500 of the biggest Music Reps in the business, from radio and press to management and booking.

I really believe in myself. I'm the hardest worker I know, and one of the best songwriters. There's a craft to it, and it takes a long time to hone it, and I work really hard at it.