The first album I owned was probably a Backstreet Boys album, and shortly after was Shania Twain.

I started singing when I was four years old; that was the first time I took a voice lesson.

Growing up, my parents loved Bon Jovi and Boston and Rush and all that, but it wasn't really connecting with me. I was still in my boy-band phase - Backstreet Boys for life!

I feel like Nashville has really embraced me with open arms. I was a little worried at first; you know, everybody knows about my immediate past, which is rock music. But everyone is coming to find out that I've been singing country music my whole life.

I have never wanted to hide my freckles. I just didn't like the way I looked without them; it didn't look like me.

It doesn't bother me that people think that Blake Shelton made me go country, because I can understand it. My immediate past is pop-rock, and people don't know a ton about me as a kid - yet. They will soon.