There's a great enthusiasm for good country music all over the world.

I never gave up on country music because I knew what I was doing was not that bad.

When Ray did I Can't Stop Loving You , that was probably the time when country music was heard by more people than ever before. He kicked country music forward 50 years. Before him, a lot of people had probably never heard of songs by Don Gibson or Hank Williams.

A lot of country music is sad. I think most art comes out of poverty and hard times. It applies to music. Three chords and the truth - that's what a country song is. There is a lot of heartache in the world.

I think Ray Charles did as much as anybody when he did his country music album. Ray Charles broke down borders and showed the similarities between country music and R&B.

There's more per capita than any other place in the world in Texas, ... Country music just brings them out. Over the years it's been a hotbed of artists that made it up to Nashville that started here in Texas.