I joke to people in the press that I realize I'm not black, I'm actually white. But I've got these roots in black American music. I love it.

American music culture is black culture.

I don't think there is much American music.

I think America concedes that true American music has sprung from the Negro.

I love that there's this tradition of being able to discuss the heaviest topics and the gnarliest stuff that goes down in people's lives in traditional Southern American music.

Listen to your inner-voice: Surround yourself with loving, nurturing people. Fall in love with your art and find yourself. Music is the great communicator.