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I made records in the past that are as traditional as any other country records that have been made, but at the same time the records have a contemporary slant on it too.

Every time I tried writing my own songs, they would come out very country. I couldn't fight it, and the more I listened to country music, the more I loved it, and it just became very natural.

Some amazing records have this power to leave you with inspiration; you're left with the urge to write something. And some records are totally overwhelming, because they are so good, they burn the bridges behind them.

It was kind of easier for me to do records that didn't take a year or two years of my life to write and to make.

All my records have been written to be records, rather than writing a group of songs and seeing if they fit together.

My father's record collection was all country. That's how I was exposed to it.

This is just strictly me wanting to make a record that is the real deal. It is all the stuff that I have learned and know that I remember. It's what I perceive as country music is about.

I've been writing since I came to Nashville when I was 17. I've been blessed to have written with so many of the biggest names around. They took me under their wing and taught me the ways of writing. They saw something special in me, which feels great. Every song on my record is going to be original, and that's just a really cool feeling.

I listened to country music my whole life. I started writing music when I was a teenager. It all came out country.