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I would say country is the one type of music I've spent the least amount of time with in my life. I grew up in Virginia, where there was a lot of it, but I was more interested in rock and roll. Southern rock.

For me there are two types of country: There's the shoot-yourself-in-the-head country, and then there's really good country music.

I like country music. I'm not going to lie. I'm from the South, and I grew up on it. My dad was a country singer-songwriter, so it's in my blood, and I love it.

Before I really knew country music, I listened to pop, and I still do.

I've always listened to and loved country music ever since I was a kid.

When it comes to best new artist or album or song of the year, yeah, it's very rare that you see someone in country win one of those. It's a very strong genre, and it's got roots so deep in our culture. I think the pool of voters listen more to pop and R&B and hip-hop. Those seem to be the major contenders.

Country music was the music I was brought up on. It's the music that's closest to my heart and the music that speaks to me the most, and it's always been a big influence on my own songwriting.

I've always liked country music. It's a certain aspect of America that goes back to the British Isles and the influence is very native to America.

The core of me is country. It's what I love. It's what I write. Even when I sing pop stuff, I'm still singing it 'countrily.'

I've always been a fan of country music. It's America's music - I love the songs, love the lyrics.