I did learn that it was the greatest thing in the world to respect yourself. Respect other people.

And I tell my audience, you know, give the real stars a round of applause. Because without them I'm nobody. So I learned so much from people like that.

I was never into the Bluegrass, Bill Monroe and stuff like that.

I'm from the Mississippi delta originally.

We could play them through the week, and then the weekend we could play the black joints. I learned to be very versatile and learned to love it. So it stays with me even up to now.

And one of my favorites was Eddy Arnold of course. He just had that smooth, soulful voice.

If I don't love you, baby, grits ain't groceries.

I was born in a little place called Inverness, MS.

My mom moved up between Leland and Greenville when I was just a little tot.

He who when called upon to speak a disagreeable truth tells it boldly and has done is both bolder and milder than he who nibbles in a low voice and never ceases nibbling.

As soon as man enters into a state of society he loses the sense of his weakness; equality ceases, and then commences the state of war.

I'm not the kind of person who thrives in "the scene." I know that when this is all over, and I'm no longer cool, I'm going to be just as happy because I'm going to be at home.

Education is a nation's cheapest defence

Country fans need to support country music by buying albums and concert tickets for traditional artists or the music will just fade away. And that would be really sad.

If the heart of a man is depressed with cares, The mist is dispelled when a woman appears.

There is nothing in which men more deceive themselves than in what they call zeal.

The secret of contentment lay in ignoring many things completely.

I'm world-famous ... all over Canada.

You are not feeling empty because you don't have much money. You are feeling empty because you have not yet encountered your real self, you have not come to your authentic individuality.