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Country is bringing in a little rock element... a little '80s element. Melody is king now. But its just in the music, its not so much in the songwriting, which is still very basic to the storytelling aspect of it.

To me, country music has always been the home for a great song.

I think there's enough room in country music for everybody.

I have always been infatuated with country music.

Country music belongs to America.

Country music has always sort of been country music.

Country music has to evolve in order to survive.

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'm a big fan of country music.

I was obsessed with country music when I was a kid, and it's definitely had a huge influence on the way I write songs. I was always attracted to songs that had a brilliant pun or a clever turn of phrase, but came from a dark, bitter place. As a writer, I've always gravitated towards that feeling.